SavedAdd your journal

Journals / International Journal of Secondary Metabolite / 2026 / Volume: 13 Issue: 3

Evaluation of the anti-carcinogenic effect of tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) on SK-BR-3 breast cancer cells

Mehmet Fatih Seyhan(İSTANBUL YENİ YÜZYIL ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-6218-0049
Hümeyra Dağdagül(ISTANBUL YENI YUZYIL UNIVERSITY)0009-0009-2198-468X
Özge Nur Eroğlu(ISTANBUL YENI YUZYIL UNIVERSITY)0009-0003-5724-0726
İrem Okumuş(ISTANBUL YENI YUZYIL UNIVERSITY)0009-0001-5810-9741
Pages
—
Publication Date
2026-09-02
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Tea tree oil may suppress cell proliferation, inhibit cell migration, and increase reactive oxygen radicals in the SK-BR-3 cell line at higher doses.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Breast cancer cells that overexpress HER2 are related to poorer survival outcomes compared to HER2-negative tumors and are recognized for their higher aggressiveness.
📊
Key Findings & Data:The study aimed to evaluate the possible effects of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil, TTO), a plant known for its broad antimicrobial and anticancer characteristics, on cell viability, cell migration, and oxidative stress in SK-BR-3 cells, which represent HER2+ breast cancer, for the first time.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:Tea tree oil may suppress cell proliferation, inhibit cell migration, and increase reactive oxygen radicals in the SK-BR-3 cell line at higher doses.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Cytotoxicity · Breast cancer · HER2

Abstract

Breast cancer cells that overexpress HER2 are related to poorer survival outcomes compared to HER2-negative tumors and are recognized for their higher aggressiveness. The study aimed to evaluate the possible effects of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil, TTO), a plant known for its broad antimicrobial and anticancer characteristics, on cell viability, cell migration, and oxidative stress in SK-BR-3 cells, which represent HER2+ breast cancer, for the first time. The efficacy of different concentrations of TTO on cell viability was measured via MTT. A scratch assay was conducted to evaluate the effects of TTO on cell migration, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity was examined with the DCF-DA assay. SK-BR-3 cells inhibited cell viability when exposed to TTO. Cell proliferation was decreased at 48 and 72 hours, especially at high doses. It was observed that cells reached the IC50 value at a lower concentration at 24 (66.76 µg/mL) and 48 (65.57 µg/mL) hours and at a higher concentration at 72 hours (88.24 µg/mL). TTO didn’t significantly inhibit wound healing and cell migration at the 67.5 µg/mL dose in SK-BR-3 cells. In the control group, the wound healed completely at 72 hours, while cell migration was repressed by the 112.5 µg/mL dose of TTO compared to untreated cells. Furthermore, TTO didn’t show a remarkable effect on ROS-dependent cell death in SK-BR-3 cells at the 24th hour; however, 48th hour exposure to both 67.5 µg/mL and 112.5 doses cause oxidative stress. Tea tree oil may suppress cell proliferation, inhibit cell migration, and increase reactive oxygen radicals in the SK-BR-3 cell line at higher doses.

Özet

Breast cancer cells that overexpress HER2 are related to poorer survival outcomes compared to HER2-negative tumors and are recognized for their higher aggressiveness. The study aimed to evaluate the possible effects of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil, TTO), a plant known for its broad antimicrobial and anticancer characteristics, on cell viability, cell migration, and oxidative stress in SK-BR-3 cells, which represent HER2+ breast cancer, for the first time. The efficacy of different concentrations of TTO on cell viability was measured via MTT. A scratch assay was conducted to evaluate the effects of TTO on cell migration, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity was examined with the DCF-DA assay. SK-BR-3 cells inhibited cell viability when exposed to TTO. Cell proliferation was decreased at 48 and 72 hours, especially at high doses. It was observed that cells reached the IC50 value at a lower concentration at 24 (66.76 µg/mL) and 48 (65.57 µg/mL) hours and at a higher concentration at 72 hours (88.24 µg/mL). TTO didn’t significantly inhibit wound healing and cell migration at the 67.5 µg/mL dose in SK-BR-3 cells. In the control group, the wound healed completely at 72 hours, while cell migration was repressed by the 112.5 µg/mL dose of TTO compared to untreated cells. Furthermore, TTO didn’t show a remarkable effect on ROS-dependent cell death in SK-BR-3 cells at the 24th hour; however, 48th hour exposure to both 67.5 µg/mL and 112.5 doses cause oxidative stress. Tea tree oil may suppress cell proliferation, inhibit cell migration, and increase reactive oxygen radicals in the SK-BR-3 cell line at higher doses.

🔖

Cite This Article

Seyhan, M. F., Dağdagül, H., Eroğlu, Ö. N., Okumuş, İ. (2026). Evaluation of the anti-carcinogenic effect of tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) on SK-BR-3 breast cancer cells. International Journal of Secondary Metabolite, Volume: 13 Issue: 3. https://doi.org/10.21448/ijsm.1872849

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (23)

  1. Agostinetto, E., Gligorov, J., & Piccart, M. (2022). Systemic therapy for early-stage breast cancer: Learning from the past to build the future. Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology, 19(12), 763–774. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41571-022-00687-1
  2. Assmann, C.E., Cadoná, F.C., Bonadiman, B. da S. R., Dornelles, E.B., Trevisan, G., & Cruz, I.B.M. da. (2018). Tea tree oil presents in vitro antitumor activity on breast cancer cells without cytotoxic effects on fibroblasts and on peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 103, 1253–1261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2018.04.096
  3. Bielo, L.B., Trapani, D., Nicolò, E., Valenza, C., Guidi, L., Belli, C., Kotteas, E., Marra, A., Prat, A., Fusco, N., Criscitiello, C., Burstein, H.J., & Curigliano, G. (2024). The evolving landscape of metastatic HER2-positive, hormone receptor-positive Breast Cancer. Cancer Treatment Reviews, 128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctrv.2024.102761
  4. Bozzuto, G., Colone, M., Toccacieli, L., Stringaro, A., & Molinari, A. (2011). Tea tree oil might combat melanoma. Planta Medica, 77(01), 54–56. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0030-1250055
  5. Byahatti, S., Bogar, C., Bhat, K., & Dandagi, G. (2020). Evaluation of anticancer activity of Melaleuka alternifolia. (I.E. Tea tree oil) on breast cancer cell line (MDA MB)- an in-vitro study. IP International Journal of Medical Microbiology and Tropical Diseases, 4(3), 176–180. https://doi.org/10.18231/2581-4761.2018.0038
  6. Chavda, V.P., Vuppu, S., Bezbaruah, R., Nalla, L.V., Gajula, S.N.R., Balar, P.C., Mishra, T., Sharma, N., Kamaraj, S., Suresh, T., Sairam, A., & Bhattacharjee, B. (2023). Phytochemical loaded nanovehicles of biopolymer for breast cancer: a systemic review. Clinical Complementary Medicine and Pharmacology, 3(4), 100114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccmp.2023.100114
  7. Clark, A.M., Magawa, C., Pliego-Zamora, A., Low, P., Reynolds, M., & Ralph, S.J. (2021). Tea tree oil extract causes mitochondrial superoxide production and apoptosis as an anticancer agent, promoting tumor infiltrating neutrophils cytotoxic for breast cancer to induce tumor regression. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 140, 111790. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111790
  8. Fehling-Kaschek, M., Peckys, D.B., Kaschek, D., Timmer, J., & Jonge, N. de. (2019). Mathematical modeling of drug-induced receptor internalization in the HER2-positive SKBR3 breast cancer cell-line. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 12709. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-49019-x
  9. Greay, S.J., Ireland, D.J., Kissick, H.T., Levy, A., Beilharz, M.W., Riley, T.V., & Carson, C.F. (2010). Induction of necrosis and cell cycle arrest in murine cancer cell lines by Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil and terpinen-4-ol. Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology, 65(5), 877–888. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-009-1093-7
  10. Hayes, A.J., Leach, D.N., Markham, J.L., & Markovic, B. (1997). In vitro cytotoxicity of Australian tea tree oil using human cell lines. Journal of Essential Oil Research, 9(5), 575–582. https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1997.9700780
  11. Jiang, L., Wang, Y., Liu, G., Liu, H., Zhu, F., Ji, H., & Li, B. (2018). C-Phycocyanin exerts anti-cancer effects via the MAPK signaling pathway in MDA-MB-231 cells. Cancer Cell International, 18, 12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-018-0511-5
  12. Kim, H.J., Chen, F., Wu, C., Wang, X., Chung, H.Y., & Jin, Z. (2004). Evaluation of antioxidant activity of Australian tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil and its components. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 52(10), 2849–2854. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf035377d
  13. Liu, X., Zu, Y., Fu, Y., Yao, L., Gu, C., Wang, W., & Efferth, T. (2009). Antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity towards cancer cells of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil. European Food Research and Technology, 229(2), 247–253. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-009-1057-5
  14. Mun, B., Kim, R., Jeong, H., Kang, B., Kim, J., Son, H.Y., Lim, J., Rho, H.W., Lim, E.-K., & Haam, S. (2023). An immuno-magnetophoresis-based microfluidic chip to isolate and detect HER2-Positive cancer-derived exosomes via multiple separation. Biosensors & Bioelectronics, 239, 115592. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2023.115592
  15. Najjari, N., Sari, S., Saffari, M., Kelidari, H., & Nokhodchi, A. (2022). Formulation optimization and characterization of Pistacia atlantica Desf. Essential oil-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers on the proliferation of human breast cancer cell line SKBR3 (in vitro studies). Journal of Herbal Medicine, 36, 100600. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2022.100600
  16. Önal, R., Dursun-Saydam, D., Terzi, M., Seyhan, M.F. (2026). Microencapsulation of black carrot pomace bioactive compounds: Artificial neural network modeling of cytotoxicity on L929 fibroblast cells. Gels, 12(1), 53. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12010053
  17. Ramadan, M.A., Shawkey, A.E., Rabeh, M.A., & Abdellatif, A.O. (2019). Expression of P53, BAX, and BCL-2 in human malignant melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma cells after tea tree oil treatment in vitro. Cytotechnology, 71(1), 461–473. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10616-018-0287-4
  18. Seyhan M.F., & Yılmaz U. (2024). Evaluation of the potential cytotoxic, antimetastatic, and antioxidant abilities of chrysin and astaxanthin in triple-negative breast cancer cells. Celal Bayar Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi, 11(4), 648-655. https://doi.org/10.34087/cbusbed.1518376
  19. Uzunparmak, B., Haymaker, C., Raso, G., Masciari, S., Wang, L., Lin, H., Gorur, A., Kirby, B., Cimo, A.-M., Kennon, A., Ding, Q., Urschel, G., Yuan, Y., Feng, G., Rizvi, Y., Hussain, A., Zhu, C., Kim, P., Abbadessa, G., … Dumbrava, E.E. (2023). HER2-low expression in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors. Annals of Oncology: Official Journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology, 34(11), 1035–1046. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annonc.2023.08.005
  20. Xia, M., Yu, H., Gu, S., Xu, Y., Su, J., Li, H., Kang, J., & Cui, M. (2014). P62/SQSTM1 is involved in cisplatin resistance in human ovarian cancer cells via the Keap1-Nrf2-ARE system. International Journal of Oncology, 45(6), 2341–2348. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2014.2669
  21. Xu, L., Xie, Y., Gou, Q., Cai, R., Bao, R., Huang, Y., & Tang, R. (2024). HER2-targeted therapies for HER2-positive early-stage breast cancer: Present and future. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 15, 1446414. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2024.1446414
  22. Yersal, O., & Barutca, S. (2014). Biological subtypes of breast cancer: Prognostic and therapeutic implications. World Journal of Clinical Oncology, 5(3), 412 424. https://doi.org/10.5306/wjco.v5.i3.412
  23. Yılmaz U., & Seyhan M.F. (2024). Effects of ellagic acid and cryptotanshinone on cell viability/cytotoxicity, metastasis, and oxidative stress in TNBC (MDA-MB-231) cells. Experimed, 14(1), 46-53. https://doi.org/10.26650/experimed.1430845