Optimization of antimicrobial activity of tea tree oil from Melaleuca Alternifolia for selective treatment of Acne Vulgaris

Abstract

Acne vulgaris is a type of skin disorder which commonly caused by bacterial infection. The disease can be treated by using topical antibiotics, raising problems with increase cases of resistance, rendering the treatment no longer effective for treating acne. The present study is aimed to investigate the potential use of tea tree oil as an alternative treatment for treating acne from sample isolated from Asian type skin. The dominant bacteria in patient diagnose with acne vulgaris was UnimapW. It was found best grown on tryptic soy agar. The colony was white in colour, arranged in grape-like cluster and gram-positive cocci bacteria. Positive catalase test differentiated UnimapW as Staphylococcus spp. instead of Streptococcus spp.. It had distinct 3 phases in growth curve and it growth rate and doubling time was 1.224 ℎ𝑟−1 and 0.817 hour. Phytochemical tests of TTO revealed that TTO contained terpenoids, tannins, saponins and phenols but absence of flavonoids and alkaloid components. The antibacterial susceptibility test for TTO was carried out by using disc diffusion method. Optimization of antibacterial activity with variation of pH agar medium, incubation temperature and disc diameter were conducted with DOE software. The response was maximized by utilizing temperature 35.3 °C, agar medium pH 5.30 and disc diameter 12 mm. The present research indicated that TTO has the potential as alternative method for treatment of acne vulgaris.