Abstract

Melaleuca oil has great medicinal properties. The objective is to develop a product based on Melaleuca armillaris to evaluate its antihistaminic action and to compare the antihistaminic effect and protective effect of M. armillaris oil and ointment. Pruritus intensity was assessed at sensitization points. Eighty volunteers, aged between 21 and 60 years (male and female) participated in the study, without contraindications to the Prick test. The left forearm was sensitized at four points: A: control (+) histamine, B: control (-) M. armillaris oil, C: histamine and after 2 min, drying and application of M. armillaris. D: M. armillaris and after 2 min the application of histamine. The right forearm was sensitized at four points. A: control (+) histamine; B: control (-) M. armillaris ointment. C: histamine and after 2 min, drying and application of M. armillaris. D: M. armillaris ointment and after 2 min, drying and application of histamine. Reading was taken after 15 min. Areas obtained were scanned and analyzed by Image J. The pruritus was evaluated through the Visual Analogue Scale. There were differences in the left and right forearm between the points A: control (+) and C: effect of post-chopped oil and post-chopped effect of ointment rearmillarisectively. The oil of M. armillaris, 100% and the ointment of M. armillaris, 50% presented antihistaminic action and did not influence the intensity of pruritus. There was no protective effect of the oil and ointment of M. armillaris.

Key words: Histamine antagonists, phytotherapy, Melaleuca, bites, stings.