Wan Li Low and colleagues from the University of Wolverhampton presented research to the Society for General Microbiology in March showing that combining low concentrations of tea tree oil and silver (in the form of silver nitrate) was effective in killing bacterial infections such as Staphylococcus aureus and the yeast Candida albicans. (Both silver and tea tree oil can cause side effects. Overexposure to silver can cause a bluish-grey discolouration of the skin and applying unregulated amounts of tea tree oil externally can cause skin irritation.)

The researchers used microscopic spherical bodies called liposomes, made of phospholipids, the naturally occurring lipids or fats in the cell wall's membranes, to deliver the silver and tea tree oil mix. This technique allows controlled release and therefore has the potential to use lower, less toxic, concentrations of the antimicrobial agents and might also be of value to treat antibiotic resistant strains such as MRSA.

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First Published in June 2009

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