Use RAPD Analysis to Classify Tea Trees in Yunnan

RAPD assessment on genetic variations of 45 tea trees in Yunnan was carried out. Eight primers selected from 40 random primers were used to amplify 45 tea samples, and a total of 95 DNA bands were amplified, of which 90(94.7%)were polymorphism. The average number of DNA bands amplified by each primer was 11.5. Based on the results of UPGMA cluster analysis of 95 DNA bands amplified by 8 primers, all the tested materials could be classified into 7 groups including 5 complex groups and 2 simple groups, which was basically identical with morphological classification. In addition, there were some speciations in 2 simple groups.

The protective roles of tea tree oil extracts in bovine mammary epithelial cells and polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Background: Tea tree oil(TTO) plays an important role in antibacterial activity and alleviating the inflammatory responses. Bovine mammary epithelium and polymorphonuclear leukocytes(PMNL) can actively respond to bovine mastitis infection. However, regulatory effects of TTO extracts on the innate immune response of bovine mammary epithelial cells(BMECs) and PMNL remain not reported. Therefore, aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of TTO extracts on the m RNA levels of the genes involved in the innate immune response of BMECs and PMNL.Results: Our results demonstrated that addition of 0.025% and 0.05% TTO increased the proliferation of BMECs, and significantly enhanced(P < 0.05) the viability of BMECs exposed to Staphylococcus aureus(S. aureus). An inhibitory effect was observed against the growth of S. aureus by TTO incubation. The 0.05% TTO reduced S. aureus biofilm formation, association and invasion of S. aureus to BMECs, and changed the morphological and structural features of S. aureus. The proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were decreased(P < 0.001) by the incubation of TTO. Interestingly, the expression of IL-8 known for PMNL chemotactic function was elevated(P < 0.05) by 0.05%TTO treatment. Consistently, 0.05% TTO increased the migration of PMNL in S. aureus-exposed BMECs when compared with S. aureus treatment alone(P < 0.05). In addition, PMNL incubated with 0.05% TTO decreased the levels of NFKB inhibitor alpha(NFKBIA) and TNF-α.Conclusions: Our results indicate that use of TTO can relieve the BMECs pro-inflammatory response caused by S.aureus and promote the migration of PMNL to mount the innate immune responses, and it may be novel strategy for the treatment of bovine mastitis caused by S. aureus.

Effects of Intercropping and Shading Systems on Tea Photosynthesis and Respiration

[Objective] The aim was to provide references for constructing compound ecological tea gardens. [Method] In an ecological adult-tea garden, teas shaded by Prunus cerasoides, Prunus L., and Litsea pungens were selected and the teas without shades were taken as a control in order to explore effects of tree shading on photosynthesis, respiration and net photosynthetic intensities. [Result] In a growth cycle of one year, for teas shaded by Prunus cerasoides, Prunus L., and Litsea pungens, respiration intensity was significantly higher than that of the control; net photosynthetic intensity was extremely significant higher; photosynthesis intensity showed none rules. Both of net photosynthetic rate and intensity kept higher in winter of shaded teas. [Conclusion] It is of significance for high-yielding and high-quality teas to reduce respiration consumption and coordinate between photosynthesis and respiration given that tea grows well.

A randomized controlled trial of topical tea tree preparation for MRSA colonized wounds

Background:The prevalence of MRSA(Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)colonized wounds in home care residents is expected to grow continuously as a result of the substantial proportion of older people requiring institutionalized care due to chronic disease and declining functional status,which contribute to more frequent skin breakdown and wound formation.Tea tree oil has been claimed to have anti-bacterial,analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects that have been suggested in many in-vitro studies to have good efficacy against MRSA.The aims of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of 10%topical tea tree preparation to eradicateMRSA and to ascertain its influence on wound healing forMRSA-colonized wounds.Methods:It was a randomized controlled trial,single-blind study.Those with stage II or above MRSA-colonized wounds and who had given their informed consent formed the sample.The determined sample sizewasbasedonthe effect size of our previouspilot study,whichwas 0.46.Five outcome measurements were taken for the MRSA bacterial count and wound healing condition at baseline and at 1-week intervals during the 4-week dressing intervention period.Results:Thirty-two participants were recruited from two non-government nursing homes,16 in the control group and 16 in the tea tree oil group.The control group residents received routine saline gauze dressing,while the tea tree oil group residents received the 10%topical tea tree preparation dressing.In the tea tree oil group,all chronic wounds that had previously been delayed in healing were healed within 28 days without adverse reaction.MRSA was also completely eradicated in 14(87.5%)out of 16 wounds in the group receiving the 10%topical tea tree preparation.

Climatic Zoning of Tea Tree Planting in Hanzhong City

[ Objective] The research aimed to study climatic zoning of tea tree cultivation in Hanzhong. [Method] Based on climate data at 11 meteorological observatories of Hanzhong during 1971 -2010, selecting annual average extreme minimum temperature, annual average temperature, accumulative temperature ≥10 ℃ and annual rainfall as climatic zoning factors, regression model between zoning factors and geographic information was established, and comprehensive climatic zoning indicator of tea tree cultivation in Hanzhong was determined. [ Result] Tea tree cultivation in Hanzhong was divided into suitable, more suitable and unsuitable planting zones by using critical value of climatic zoning. [ Conclusion] The research could provide scientific basis for reasonable planning layout and sustainable development of tea tree in the whole city.

Critical Evaluation of <i>Melaleuca alternifolia</i>: A Review of the Phytochemical Profile, Pharmacological Attributes and Medicinal Properties in the Botanical, Human and Global Perspectives

Melaleuca (tea tree) oil has become increasingly commonly used in recent decades. The essential oil in Australia for the past 120 years is now available globally as an active component in various products. Historically, Melaleuca oil is known for its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory actions. Currently, microwave technology is applied to extract Melaleuca oil, but this extraction technology is not commercially under practice. Traditionally, Melaleuca oil extraction is possible through steam distillation of the Melaleuca alternifolia terminal branches and leaves, and the resultant extract is always either clear or pale yellowish. Melaleuca oil has been promoted as a therapeutic agent because scientific studies indicate that the Rideal-Walker (RW) coefficients of its extract composition include 8 for cymene, 16 for terpineol, 13.5 for tepinen-4-ol and 3.5 for cineole. The mode of action against bacteria is now partially elucidated, and assumptions exist. Hydrocarbons partition into biological membranes to disrupt the vital functions of Melaleuca oil, and also its components behave in the same manner. Therefore, the inhibition of respiration and the leakage of ions or loss of intracellular material and the inability to maintain homeostasis reflect the loss of membrane integrity and lysis in Melaleuca oil products containing lower than usual terpenes concentrations. Melaleuca oil possesses antifungal properties and is known exclusively for the treatment of Candida albicans. This essential oil strongly changes the permeability of Candida albican cells. C. albicans treatment with 0.25% tea tree oil leads to propidium iodide uptake. However, a significant loss of 260-nmlight-absorbing materials after staining with methylene blue occurs after 6 hours. Melaleuca extracts alter the permeability of Candida glabrata that occurs when the membrane is treated with 0.25% Melaleuca oil. Melaleuca oils possess antiviral properties but most findings evidence that this oil fights against both non-enveloped and enveloped viruses, although the range of viruses tested to date is minimal. Melaleuca oil is known for its antiprotozoal activity because it causes a 50% reduction in the growth of protozoa Leishmania major and Trypanosoma brucei at concentrations of 403 mg/ml and 0.5 mg/ml, respectively, based on the studies done (in comparison to controls). An investigation has shown that terpinen-4-ol also contributes significantly to antiprotozoal activity. Tea tree oils at 300 mg/ml killed all cells of Trichomonas vaginalis, and also anecdotal in-vivo studies evidence that Melaleuca oil may be effective in treating infections caused by Trichomonas vaginalis. This review article summarizes the developments in our understanding of the phytochemistry, bioactivity, metabolism and the economic aspects of Melaleuca alternifolia, and it details how Melaleuca alternifolia species have evolved in the ecosystem.

Preparation of Pickering Emulsion for Antibacterial, Anti-Inflammatory and Wound Healing

In recent years, natural biodegradable nanoparticles as stabilizers of Pickering emulsions have attracted extensive attention. In this work, a Pickering emulsion composed of chitosan/Arabic gum nanoparticles (CS/GA NPs), tea tree oil and vitamin E was formulated. Then the antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and wound healing abilities of the emulsion were evaluated. Pickering emulsion encapsulated the tea tree oil strengthened antibacterial activity towards Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. Besides, this multi-phase system offered a platform to load with vitamin E, which provides anti-inflammatory effects while antibacterial. Meanwhile, Pickering emulsion avoided contact between bacteria and skin when used in wound treatment.

The Tea Tree Genome Provides Insights into Tea Flavor and Independent Evolution of Caffeine Biosynthesis

Tea is the world＇s oldest and most popular caffeine-containing beverage with immense economic, medicinal, and cultural importance. Here, we present the first high-quality nucleotide sequence of the repeat-rich （80.9%）, 3.02-Gb genome of the cultivated tea tree Camellia sinensis. We show that an extraordinarily large genome size of tea tree is resulted from the slow, steady, and long-term amplification of a few LTR retrotransposon families. In addition to a recent whole-genome duplication event, lineage-specific expansions of genes associated with flavonoid metabolic biosynthesis were discovered, which enhance catechin production, terpene enzyme activation, and stress tolerance, important features for tea flavor and adaptation. We demonstrate an independent and rapid evolution of the tea caffeine synthesis pathway relative to cacao and coffee. A comparative study among 25 Camellia species revealed that higher expression levels of most flavonoid- and caffeinebut not theanine-related genes contribute to the increased production of catechins and caffeine and thus enhance tea-processing suitability and tea quality. These novel findings pave the way for further metabolomic and functional genomic refinement of characteristic biosynthesis pathways and will help develop a more diversified set of tea flavors that would eventually satisfy and attract more tea drinkers worldwide.

Soil acidification of alfisols influenced by nitrate and ammonium nitrogen level in tea plantation

Nitrogen is an important fertilizer in tea production,but it is also an important factor in tea garden soil acidification.The relationship between absorption and transport of different forms of nitrogen in the tea plant and soil acidification is still unknown.In order to explore the different characteristics of absorption,utilization and distribution of nitrogen,stable isotope 15N tracer technique was used to measure the absorption,utilization and allocation of nitrate nitrogen(NO_(3-)15N)and ammonium nitrogen(NH4-15N)under the same nitrogen application amount of tea tree seedlings as experimental materials.The results showed that the tea seedlings had the same pattern of nitrogen application:tissue nitrogen content increased after fertilization,remarkable rising at 7 d and the absorption speed increased quickly after 28 d,finally reached its maximum at 56 d.The nitrogen use efficiency of two nitrogen sources in two kinds of soil varied not significantly.The maximum NUE of NO_(3-)^(15)N reached 12.66%,and at the same time NH_(4)-^(15)N utilization rose up to 11.54%.According to the absorption of soil nitrogen and nitrogen fertilizer in the two kinds of soil,it is concluded that the soil nitrogen cannot meet the growth needs of tea tree and extra nitrogen supply was required.The declined soil pH indicated that fertilizer should be used in moderation,which can not only satisfy the growth of tea tree but also to restrict soil acidification.

Tea tree oil,a vibrant source of neuroprotection via neuroinflammation inhibition:a critical insight into repurposing Melaleuca alternifolia by unfolding its characteristics

Over the past few decades,complementary and alternative treatments have become increasingly popular worldwide.The purported therapeutic characteristics of natural products have come under increased scrutiny both in vitro and in vivo as part of efforts to legitimize their usage.One such product is tea tree oil(TTO),a volatile essential oil primarily obtained from the native Australian plant,Melaleuca alternifolia,which has diverse traditional and industrial applications such as topical preparations for the treatment of skin infections.Its anti-inflammatory-linked immunomodulatory actions have also been reported.This systematic review focuses on the anti-inflammatory effects of TTO and its main components that have shown strong immunomodulatory potential.An extensive literature search was performed electronically for data curation on worldwide accepted scientific databases,such as Web of Science,Google Scholar,PubMed,ScienceDirect,Scopus,and esteemed publishers such as Elsevier,Springer,Frontiers,and Taylor&Francis.Considering that the majority of pharmacological studies were conducted on crude oils only,the extracted data were critically analyzed to gain further insight into the prospects of TTO being used as a neuroprotective agent by drug formulation or dietary supplement.In addition,the active constituents contributing to the activity of TTO have not been well justified,and the core mechanisms need to be unveiled especially for anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects leading to neuroprotection.Therefore,this review attempts to correlate the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity of TTO with its neuroprotective mechanisms.

Preparation and characterization of tea tree oil-β-cyclodextrin microcapsules with super-high encapsulation efficiency

This study aimed to prepare tea tree oil-β-cyclodextrin microcapsules using an optimized co-precipitated method.The impact of the volume fraction of ethanol in the solvent system for microencapsulation on encapsulation efficiency was investigated and analyzed sophisticatedly.Super-high encapsulation efficiency was achieved when a 40%volume fraction of ethanol was used for the microencapsulation procedure,where the recovery yield of microcapsules and the embedding fraction of tea tree oil in microcapsules were as high as 88.3%and 94.3%,respec-tively.Additionally,considering the operation cost,including time and energy consumption,an economical preparation was validated so that it would be viable for large-scale production.Based on the results of morphological and X-ray diffraction analysis,the crystal structure appeared to differ before and after microencapsulation.The results of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the successful formation of microcapsules.Furthermore,the antibacterial activity of the fabricated microcapsules was assessed by a simple growth inhibition test using Bacillus subtilis as the study object,and the hydrophilic property was proved by a water contact angle measurement.