Randomised controlled trial of the treatment of pastern dermatitis with a formulation containing kunzea oil

Abstract

The efficacy of an ointment containing kunzea oil for the treatment of horses with localised acute or chronic pastern dermatitis was assessed. Thirty-seven horses were randomly allocated to treatment with an ointment containing either 20 per cent kunzea oil (test) or 2 per cent ketoconazole (control). Only 21 of the horses completed the study. The severity of the lesions was assessed before and after seven days of treatment. The kunzea oil formulation resulted in a significant decrease in the median total area of the lesions from 40 cm(2) (range 3 to 252 cm(2)) to 0 cm(2) (range 0 to 34 cm(2)), with complete resolution of the signs of pastern dermatitis in seven of 11 cases. The control formulation resulted in no significant change in the total area of the lesions, and the signs of pastern dermatitis resolved completely in only two of the 10 cases.

Safety and efficacy of kunzea oil-containing formulations for the management of psoriasis: a randomized, controlled trial

“…A formulation containing kunzea oil has been proven as a safe and fast-acting treatment option for the management of pastern dermatitis (an inflammatory condition) in horses. 23 These findings suggest that kunzea oil could facilitate the reversal of dermatological symptoms associated with inflammatory psoriasis. This double-blind, randomized study explored the efficacy of topically applied kunzea oil-containing formulations, compared with a control formulation, for the treatment of psoriasis.…”

“…Kunzea oil has been listed as a therapeutic substance by the Therapeutic Goods Administration in Australia for topical application to treat various dermatological ailments (AUSTL 72143; 1999). A formulation containing kunzea oil has been proven as a safe and fast‐acting treatment option for the management of pastern dermatitis (an inflammatory condition) in horses . These findings suggest that kunzea oil could facilitate the reversal of dermatological symptoms associated with inflammatory psoriasis.…”

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“…Kunzea oil is currently approved and listed by the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration, Australia) for topical application in humans and animals. The author's preliminary investigations Thomas J et al [6,8] and Thomas J [7] revealed kunzea oil's potent in vitro antimicrobial action activity (anti-bacterial, antifungal, anti-viral). Kunzea oil's potent activity antifungal activity (MIC [minimum inhibitory concentration] 0.01-0.03% v/v; MFC [minimum fungicidal concentration] 0.03-0.12 % v/v) against yeast fungi Malasseziaspp appeared to have noted clinical significance.…”

“…The oil has been anecdotally used for the management of various dermatological conditions including onychomycosis, impetigo, inflammation and cold sores also as an environmentally benign insect repellent and/or cidal agent. The recent preclinical and clinical investigations of this essential oil demonstrates it potential usefulness as an antimicrobial agent for the management inflammatory skin conditions in humans and animals, and further studies are underway [6][7][8][9]. Essential oils are plant secondary metabolites containing a mixture of fatty acids, and have been investigated successfully for the management of alopecia areata in randomised controlled trials [10,11].…”

Epidemiological observations on pastern dermatitis in young horses and evaluation of essential fatty acid spot‐on applications with or without phytosphingosine as prophylactic treatment

“…In Tasmania, oftentimes “Greasy Heal”, a formulation containing kunzea oil, is used. A placebo‐controlled study showed that kunzea oil had a significant impact on the reduction of lesion size and resulted in complete clinical remission in 63.6% (seven of 11) of the horses 12 . In vitro activity of this product against several agents such as Malassezia , Trichophyton and S. aureus was stated as a possible reason, although data from the authors' laboratory was not shared in that publication 1,12 .…”