Nanosystems Containing Melaleuca alternifolia Essential Oil: Antimicrobial Potential and Therapeutic Applications

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the major challenges to global public health, compromising the effectiveness of conventional therapies and promoting the persistence of infections associated with multidrug-resistant microorganisms and microbial biofilms. In this context, natural products have been investigated as potential sources of new antimicrobial agents. The essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil) stands out due to its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against clinically relevant bacteria and fungi. However, its direct pharmaceutical application is limited by unfavorable physicochemical properties, such as high volatility, low solubility in aqueous media, and susceptibility to oxidative degradation. This study aimed to analyze the main nanosystems developed with Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil and to evaluate their antimicrobial potential and possible therapeutic applications. For this purpose, an integrative literature review was conducted using the Web of Science, PubMed, and SciELO databases, considering publications from 2015 to 2025, in English and Portuguese. Studies investigating nano-structured delivery systems containing the essential oil and their antimicrobial activity were included. The results indicated that nanosystems such as nanoemulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, and chitosan-based nanocarriers can improve the stability, solubility, and bioavailability of the essential oil, as well as enhance its antimicrobial activity. Therefore, these systems represent a promising strategy for the development of new antimicrobial formulations, although further studies are still needed to confirm their safety and therapeutic efficacy.
Keywords: Melaleuca alternifolia, tea tree oil, nanosystems, antimicrobial activity.