Latin Names: Melaleuca
leucadendron var. Cajuputi
Other
Latin Names: Melaleuca cajuputi Powell, Melaleuca
viridiflora, Melaleuca minor
Family: Myrtaceae
Cajeput is a paperbark tree similar to
eucalyptus. It has shown antimicrobial and insect repelling
activity. It has been used as a folk remedy to help with respiratory
complaints.
ANTIMICROBIAL / ANTIBACTERIAL / ANTIFUNGAL
·
Cajeput oil and its isolated constituents
of linalool, terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol, and 1,8-cineole demonstrated
antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia
coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from patients’
clinical material. From:
Cuong, N. D., Xuyen, T. T., Motl, O., Stránský, K., Presslova, J., Jedlickova,
Z., & Serý, V. (1994). Antibacterial properties of Vietnamese cajuput
oil. Journal of Essential Oil Research, 6(1), 63-67.
·
Melaleuca leucadendra was antifungal against
candida and could be useful in combination with traditional
antibiotics. From:
Zhang, J., Wu, H., Jiang, D., Yang, Y., Tang, W., & Xu, K. (2018). The
antifungal activity of essential oil from Melaleuca leucadendra (L.) L. grown
in China and its synergistic effects with conventional antibiotics against
Candida. Natural product research, 1-4.
·
Thymus vulgaris (thyme), Ocimum
gratissimum (basil) and Eugenia caryophyllata (clove)
were particularly antibacterial with a large spectra action, and Melaleuca
viridiflora (cajeput) had also a high inhibitory effect especially on
Gram positive bacteria.
From: Ramanoelina, A. R., Terrom, G. P., Bianchini, J. P., &
Coulanges, P. (1986). [Antibacterial action of essential oils extracted from
Madagascar plants]. Archives de l’Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, 53(1),
217-226.
·
Cajeput and basil oils were combined to demonstrate
topical antibacterial application. From: Jedlickova, Z., Mottl, O., & Serý,
V. (1991). Antibacterial properties of the Vietnamese cajeput oil and ocimum
oil in combination with antibacterial agents. Journal of hygiene, epidemiology,
microbiology, and immunology, 36(3), 303-309.
·
Cajeput was antifungal against Fomitopsis
palustris,Trametes versicolor, Cladosporium cladosporioides, and Chaetomium
globosum and also showed some antioxidant and anti-hyaluronidase
activity. From: Rini,
P., Ohtani, Y., & Ichiura, H. (2012). Antioxidant, anti-hyaluronidase and
antifungal activities of Melaleuca leucadendron Linn. leaf oils. Journal of
wood science, 58(5), 429-436.
·
Cinnamon, oregano, savory, thyme, clove, lemongrass,
cajeput, and allspice showed antibacterial activity against meat spoilage bacteria. From: Oussalah, M., Caillet,
S., Saucier, L., & Lacroix, M. (2006). Antimicrobial effects of selected
plant essential oils on the growth of a Pseudomonas putida strain isolated from
meat. Meat science, 73(2), 236-244.
·
The antimicrobial effect of linalool, terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol
and 1,8-cineole as isolated constituents of cajeput oil was demonstrated. From: Cuong, N. D., Xuyen,
T. T., Motl, O., Stránský, K., Presslova, J., Jedlickova, Z., & Serý, V.
(1994). Antibacterial properties of Vietnamese cajuput oil. Journal of
Essential Oil Research, 6(1), 63-67.
·
Antibacterial activity of Australian tea tree, cajeput,
niaouli, kanuka, manuka, and eucalyptus oil were assessed. From: Harkenthal, M., Reichling,
J., Geiss, H. K., & Saller, R. (1999). Comparative study on the in vitro
antibacterial activity of Australian tea tree oil, cajuput oil, niaouli oil,
manuka oil, kanuka oil, and eucalyptus oil. Die Pharmazie, 54(6), 460-463.
·
Antimicrobial activities of lavender, thyme, peppermint,
cajeput, cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, sage, and tea tree were summarized.
From: Wińska, K.,
Mączka, W., Łyczko, J., Grabarczyk, M., Czubaszek, A., & Szumny, A. (2019).
Essential Oils as Antimicrobial Agents—Myth or Real Alternative?. Molecules, 24(11), 2130.
·
M. leucadendron was found
marginally active against T. b. Brucei bacteria. From: Fernández-Calienes Valdés,
A., Mendiola Martínez, J., Scull Lizama, R., Vermeersch, M., Cos, P., &
Maes, L. (2008). In vitro anti-microbial activity of the Cuban medicinal plants
Simarouba glauca DC, Melaleuca leucadendron L and Artemisia absinthium L.
Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 103(6), 615-618.
·
Olbas oil, a blend of peppermint, eucalyptus, and cajuput
oil, along with a small amount of juniper berry and wintergreen showed strong
antimicrobial activity in vitro that may be effective against various skin or
respiratory infections.
From: Hamoud, R., Sporer, F., Reichling, J., & Wink, M. (2012).
Antimicrobial activity of a traditionally used complex essential oil distillate
(Olbas® Tropfen) in comparison to its individual essential oil
ingredients. Phytomedicine, 19(11), 969-976.
·
Australian tea tree oil, cajuput, niaouli, lema, kanuka, and
manuka showed antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus. From: Christoph, F.,
Stahl-Biskup, E., & Kaulfers, P. M. (2001). Death kinetics of
Staphylococcus aureus exposed to commercial tea tree oils sl. Journal of Essential Oil
Research, 13(2), 98-102.
·
The antimicrobial activities of Melaleuca spp
is reviewed. From: Sharifi‐Rad, J., Salehi, B., Varoni, E. M., Sharopov,
F., Yousaf, Z., Ayatollahi, S. A., … & Iriti, M. (2017). Plants of the
Melaleuca genus as antimicrobial agents: From farm to pharmacy. Phytotherapy
Research, 31(10), 1475-1494.
·
Clove, cajeput, tea tree, naiouli, and eucalyptus showed
varying degrees of activity against Penicillium commune. From: Tančinová, D., Foltinová, D., Mašková,
Z., Štefániková, J., & Árvay, J. (2019). Effect of essential oils of
Myrtaceae plants on the Penicillium commune. Potravinarstvo Slovak
Journal of Food Sciences, 13(1), 604-613.
·
Antimicrobial activities of essential oils from Melaleuca
species were demonstrated. From:
Farag, R. S., Shalaby, A. S., El‐Baroty, G. A., Ibrahim, N. A., Ali, M. A.,
& Hassan, E. M. (2004). Chemical and biological evaluation of the essential
oils of different Melaleuca species. Phytotherapy Research: An
International Journal Devoted to Pharmacological and Toxicological Evaluation
of Natural Product Derivatives, 18(1), 30-35.
ANTIOXIDANT
·
Free radical scavenging
activity was assessed for M. leucadendra. From: Pino, J. A., Regalado, E. L.,
Rodríguez, J. L., & Fernández, M. D. (2010). Phytochemical Analysis and in
vitro Free‐Radical‐Scavenging Activities of the Essential Oils
from Leaf and Fruit of Melaleuca leucadendra L. Chemistry & biodiversity,
7(9), 2281-2288.
·
Cajeput was antifungal against Fomitopsis
palustris,Trametes versicolor, Cladosporium cladosporioides, and Chaetomium
globosum and also showed some antioxidant and anti-hyaluronidase
activity. From: Rini,
P., Ohtani, Y., & Ichiura, H. (2012). Antioxidant, anti-hyaluronidase and
antifungal activities of Melaleuca leucadendron Linn. leaf oils. Journal of
wood science, 58(5), 429-436.
NEUROPROTECTIVE
·
In a review of essential oils from the Myrtaceae family,
those containing higher amount of 1,8-cineole demonstrated the highest activity
to inhibit the AchE. Alzheimer’s disease
is related to a loss of neuron function and neurotransmitter acetylcholine
(ACh). From:
Petrachaianan, T., Chaiyasirisuwan, S., Athikomkulchai, S., & Sareedenchai,
V. (2019). Screening of acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity in essential
oil from Myrtaceae. TJPS, 43(1), 63-68.
SUNSCREEN
·
Cajeput in a recipe showed good absorption and high
potential to be useful as a sunscreen. From: Sainorudin, M. H., Rozaini, M. Z. H., Hamzah,
H., Saupi, A. A. M., Norazemi, N. F., Ismail, Z., … & Zain, M. H. (2015).
Preliminary Study of Sunscreen and Anti-Tyrosinase Effect on Microemulsion
Extract from Melaleuca Cajuputi Essential Oil using Nonionic Surfactant. GSTF
Journal of Chemical Sciences (JChem), 2(1).
PRESERVATIVE
·
Cinnamon, oregano, savory, thyme, clove, lemongrass,
cajeput, and allspice showed antibacterial activity against meat spoilage
bacteria. From:
Oussalah, M., Caillet, S., Saucier, L., & Lacroix, M. (2006).
Antimicrobial effects of selected plant essential oils on the growth of a
Pseudomonas putida strain isolated from meat. Meat science, 73(2), 236-244.
RESPIRATORY HEALTH
·
Melaleuca lencadendron strongly inhibited
histamine releases from rat mast cells with ursolic acid, a triterpene, being
the most active compound followed by two stilbenes: piceatannol and
oxyresveratrol. From:
Tsuruga, T., Chun, Y.T., Ebizuka, Y., and Sankawa, U. (1991). Biologically
active constituents of Melaleuca leucadendron: inhibitors of induced histamine
release from rat mast cells. Chemical and pharmaceutical bulletin, 39(12),
3276-3278.
·
Olbas oil, a blend of peppermint, eucalyptus, and cajuput
oil, along with a small amount of juniper berry and wintergreen showed strong
antimicrobial activity in vitro that may be effective against various skin or
respiratory infections.
From: Hamoud, R., Sporer, F., Reichling, J., & Wink, M. (2012).
Antimicrobial activity of a traditionally used complex essential oil distillate
(Olbas® Tropfen) in comparison to its individual essential oil
ingredients. Phytomedicine, 19(11), 969-976.
HEPATOPROTECTIVE
·
Melaleuca leucadendron (cajeput), Foeniculum
vulgare (fennel), Cinnamomum burmani (cinnamon), Strychnos
ligustrina, and Piper nigrum (black pepper) may
inhibit CYP3A4 and/or CYP2D6 in the liver, affecting drug and chemicals
metabolism. From:
Usia, T., Iwata, H., Kadota, S., & Tezuka, Y. (2006). Mechanism-based
inhibition of CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 by Indonesian medicinal plants. Journal of
ethnopharmacology, 105(3), 449-455.
INSECT REPELLENT / INSECTICIDAL
·
M. cajuputi leaf essential oil had repellency,
fumigant and contact toxicities against the insects: Sitophilus
zeamais and Tribolium castaneum. From: Ko, K.,
Juntarajumnong, W., & Chandrapatya, A. (2009). Repellency, fumigant and
contact toxicities of Melaleuca cajuputi Powell against Sitophilus zeamais
Motschulsky and Tribolium castaneum Herbst. Thai Journal of Agricultural
Science, 42(1), 27-33.
·
Essential oils were tested on human skin against the
yellow fever mosquito, the malaria vector, and the filariasis and
encephalitis vector. The five most effective oils were those of Litsea
cubeba (litsea), Melaleuca leucadendron (cajeput), Melaleuca
quinquenervia (niaouli), Viola odorata (violet), and Nepeta
cataria (catnip), with a protection time of 8 hours at 100% repellency
against all three species.
From: Amer, A., & Mehlhorn, H. (2006). Repellency effect of forty-one
essential oils against Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex mosquitoes. Parasitology
research, 99(4), 478-490.
·
Essential oils from Melaleuca leucadendron (cajeput), Litsea
cubeba, and Litsea salicifolia exhibited significant
irritant and repellent properties against Ae. aegypti mosquitos.
From: Noosidum,
A., Prabaripai, A., Chareonviriyaphap, T., & Chandrapatya, A. (2008).
Excito-repellency properties of essential oils from Melaleuca leucadendron L.,
Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Persoon, and Litsea salicifolia (Nees) on Aedes aegypti (L.)
mosquitoes. Journal of Vector Ecology, 33(2), 305-312.
·
Australian plants demonstrated varying degrees of insect
(mosquito) repellency and included: eucalyptus, tea tree, cajuput, manuka, balm
mint bush, fragonia, myrtle, cypress, and niaouli. From: Webb, C. E. (2014). Insect
repellents derived from Australian plants and implications for public health
messages. Insect repellents handbook, 213.
·
The repellency of Austrailian plants of the Myrtaceae
family is reviewed. From: Webb, C.
E. (2014). Insect repellents derived from Australian plants and implications
for public health messages. Insect repellents handbook, 213.
SKIN / WOUND
·
Olbas oil, a blend of peppermint, eucalyptus, and cajuput oil,
along with a small amount of juniper berry and wintergreen showed strong
antimicrobial activity in vitro that may be effective against various skin or
respiratory infections.
From: Hamoud, R., Sporer, F., Reichling, J., & Wink, M. (2012).
Antimicrobial activity of a traditionally used complex essential oil distillate
(Olbas® Tropfen) in comparison to its individual essential oil
ingredients. Phytomedicine, 19(11), 969-976.
·
Cajeput and basil oils were combined to demonstrate
topical antibacterial application. From: Jedlickova, Z., Mottl, O., & Serý,
V. (1991). Antibacterial properties of the Vietnamese cajeput oil and ocimum
oil in combination with antibacterial agents. Journal of hygiene, epidemiology,
microbiology, and immunology, 36(3), 303-309.
SEDATIVE
·
Cajeput and ylang ylang oil odors possessed sedative
effect and patchouli oil odor was stimulating to human physiologies. From: Wang, C. N. (2012).
Effect of Melaleuca leucadendron, Cananga odorata and Pogostemon cablin oil
odors on human physiological responses. Wood Research, 3(2), 100.
ORAL HEALTH
·
This article reviews plants used in oral health and
includes pomegranate, German chamomile, green tea, Diospyros
mespiliformis, Diospyros lycioides, Salvadora persica, honey
and propolis from the manuka tree, rhubarb, raisins, essential oils (thyme,
cajuput, manuka, and verbena), probiotics and mushrooms. From: Chinsembu, K. C. (2016). Plants
and other natural products used in the management of oral infections and
improvement of oral health. Acta Tropica, 154, 6-18.
Compiled by: Kathy Sadowski
Updated: 9/18/19
.