Administration of essential oil of tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) in experimental muscle injury by phonoforesis

The essential oil of the tea tree Melaleuca alternifolia (Bio Essência®) is widelly used topically in alternative medicines. Its antibiotic and anti-inflamatory effects are well documented [1]. Phonophoresis is used in physical therapy as a way of enhancing the penetration of topically applied drugs (usually corticosteroids) through the skin and is able to enhance the effects of the treatments and to shorten the treatment period [2]. In this work we have investigated the effects of the use of phonophoresis conjugated with the application of the essential oil of the tea tree in the course of the healing of experimentally induced muscular lesions in rat tibial muscle. Twenty whistar rats were divided into two groups of 10 rats. Rats were surgically injured by laceration according to [3]. Control rats (group I) were left to recover without any treatment. The experimental group (II) was treated with tea tree essential oil 300mg/ml in carbopol gel, conjugated with phonophoresis according to Cameron et al, 1992 [2]. Treatments were applied daily during the first 10 days after injury.