In Vitro Susceptibilities of Lactobacilli and Organisms Associated with Bacterial Vaginosis to Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil

Tea tree oil, an essential oil from the Australian plantMelaleuca alternifolia, has broad antimicrobial activity and is incorporated into a diverse range of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products (2, 3). Blackwell (1) described a patient with typical signs and symptoms of bacterial vaginosis (BV) who treated herself with tea tree oil vaginal pessaries. After treatment, the patient was symptom free and the vaginal flora comprised predominantly gram-positive bacilli. It was suggested that the use of tea tree oil for the treatment of BV be further assessed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the activities of tea tree oil against lactobacilli and a range of organisms associated with BV.