The Antioxidant and Anticancer Efficacy of Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) Oil and Casein Polymer Against Melanoma Skin Cancer

Abstract

One of the most widespread global health problems is cancer, specifically skin cancer. These problems are attributed to environmental and immunological causes and can be associated with other disease conditions. According to the statistical increase of the disease, the need has become urgent to reach an alternative formula for chemotherapy due to its side effects on the body's organs. One of the most important anticancer agents is essential oils, especially tea tree oil, which has been extracted from the plant's dry leaves using the steam distillation method by Clevenger apparatus, then analysed using gas chromatography mass technique which revealed the presence of many important compounds such as (4-terpineol 22.45%, cymene 14.10%, γ-terpinene 6.69%, α-pinene 5.79%, α-terpineol 3.48%, sabinene 2.54% and α-terpinolene 2.33%); the oil was polymerized with casein to compare its effectiveness as an antioxidant and anticancer agent. The study proved that casein polymer compared to ascorbic acid scored highest inhibitory activity at concentration 100 (mg/ml) (34.34±11.92 and 54.08±15.89) and 80 (mg/ml) (27.15±10.92 and 38.77±12.83) and lowest inhibitory activity at concentration 40 (mg/ml) (14.26±4.98 and 20.91±8.92) and 20 (mg/ml) (14.89±6.29 and 18.36±6.87); meanwhile tea tree oil scored highest anticancer activity at doses 0, 31.25, and 62.5 µg/ml (100 ± 1.92, 92.20 ± 1.98, and 91.96 ± 1.95) and lowest anticancer activity at doses 250 and 500 µg/ml (53.6 ± 1.80 and 10.37 ± 2.86), while casein scored highest anticancer activity at doses 0, 7.81 and 31.25 µg/ml (100 ± 4.09, 89.94 ± 0.66   and 89.35 ± 3.30) and lowest anticancer activity at doses 250 µg/ml (74.09 ± 1.78) which considered the highest skin anticancer value for the polymer.