Jed Whetten (10835161@uvu.edu)

Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) leaves have been used throughout many cultures around the world to help heal wounds and injuries because of its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. Some essential oil companies claim that tea tree essential oil contains purifying capabilities for air and contaminated surfaces. Essential oils are synthesized by many methods, the most popular being steam distillation. The essential oils, once purified, are sold to customers so they can use the oil to benefit from the plant's physiology and metabolic processes. In attempts to inform the scientific community about the antibacterial properties of the essential oil, we tested whether tea tree oil possesses the ability to fight common infections to any significant degree. We grew Escherichia coli & Staphylococcus aureus and measured the zones of inhibition in response to different concentrations of the essential oil. We also tested two different brands of tea tree oil, dōTERRA and Lagunamoon. We found that dōTERRA tea tree oil exhibited antibacterial properties while the Lagunamoon oil did not.