Melaleuca Leucadendron Fruit Extract is an ingredient primarily used in cosmetics and skincare products.
Industrial Production Process
- Extraction of bioactive compounds from the fruits of Melaleuca Leucadendron. This can be done using solvents such as ethyl alcohol or water, depending on the solubility of the desired compounds.
- Purification. After extraction, the solution containing the bioactive compounds is purified to remove impurities and solvent residues.
- Quality Control. The Melaleuca Leucadendron fruit extract undergoes quality testing to ensure it meets the required standards in terms of purity and concentration of bioactive compounds.
What it is for and where
Cosmetics
Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.
CAS 85480-37-1
EC Number 287-316-4
Form and Color
This Melaleuca Leucadendron compound generally appears as a usually colorless or very light-colored liquid.
Melaleuca Leucadendron commonly known as cajeput is a tree belonging to the Myrtaceae family, known for its medicinal and aromatic properties. It is commonly used for cajeput oil, which is extracted from its leaves and used in various treatments. This oil is known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant (1) and antimicrobial (2) properties. Phytochemical analysis has revealed the presence of terpenes, methyl eugenol and other interesting compounds useful for human health (3) It is often used in skin care products, in cold and cough remedies, and as an analgesic. Melaleuca Leucadendron is native to Australia and Indonesia, but is also cultivated in other tropical regions.
References_____________________________________________________________________
(1) Surh J, Yun JM. Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Activities of Butanol Extract of Melaleuca leucadendron L. Prev Nutr Food Sci. 2012 Mar;17(1):22-8. doi: 10.3746/pnf.2012.17.1.022.
Abstract. Melaleuca leucadendron L. has been used as a tranquilizing, sedating, evil-dispelling and pain-relieving agent. We examined the effects of M. leucadendron L. extracts on oxidative stress and inflammation. M. leucadendron L. was extracted with methanol (MeOH) and then fractionated with chloroform (CHCl3) and butanol (BuOH). Antioxidant activity of the MeOH extract and BuOH fraction were higher than that of both α-tocopherol and butyrated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Total phenol content in the extracts of M. leucadendron L., especially the BuOH fraction, well correlated with the antioxidant activity. The anti-inflammatory activity of BuOH extracts were investigated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The BuOH fraction significantly inhibited LPS-induced NO and PGE2 production. Furthermore, BuOH extract of M. leucadendron L. inhibited the expression of COX-2 and iNOS protein without an appreciable cytotoxic effect on RAW264.7 cells. The extract of M. leucadendron L. also suppressed the phosphorylation of inhibitor κBα (IκBα) and its degradation associated with nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation. Furthermore, BuOH fraction inhibited LPS-induced NF-κB transcriptional activity in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggested that M. leucadendron L. could be useful as a natural anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory resource.
(2) Valdés AF, Martínez JM, Lizama RS, Vermeersch M, Cos P, Maes L. In vitro anti-microbial activity of the Cuban medicinal plants Simarouba glauca DC, Melaleuca leucadendron L and Artemisia absinthium L. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2008 Sep;103(6):615-8. doi: 10.1590/s0074-02762008000600019. PMID: 18949336.
Abstract. In the present study, an extensive in vitro antimicrobial profiling was performed for three medicinal plants grown in Cuba, namely Simarouba glauca, Melaleuca leucadendron and Artemisia absinthium. Ethanol extracts were tested for their antiprotozoal potential against Trypanosoma b. brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania infantum and Plasmodium falciparum. Antifungal activities were evaluated against Microsporum canis and Candida albicans whereas Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were used as test organisms for antibacterial activity. Cytotoxicity was assessed against human MRC-5 cells. Only M. leucadendron extract showed selective activity against microorganisms tested. Although S. glauca exhibited strong activity against all protozoa, it must be considered non-specific. The value of integrated evaluation of extracts with particular reference to selectivity is discussed.
(3) Tsuruga T, Chun YT, Ebizuka Y, Sankawa U. Biologically active constituents of Melaleuca leucadendron: inhibitors of induced histamine release from rat mast cells. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 1991 Dec;39(12):3276-8. doi: 10.1248/cpb.39.3276.
Abstract. Chloroform and methanol extracts of the fruits of Melaleuca leucadendron strongly inhibited histamine release from rat mast cells induced by compound 48/80 or concanavalin A. Ursolic acid, a triterpene, was the most active compound contained in the chloroform extract and two stilbenes, piceatannol and oxyresveratrol, were isolated as active compounds from the methanol extract. Several other stilbenes and related compounds were examined to obtain information on the structure activity relationships of stilbenes.
