NeuMedix Biotechnology Pty Ltd and NeuMedix Melacon Pty Ltd, under the directorships of Professor Max Reynolds and Mr Michael Issakidis are the companies within the group developing various applications of MegaBac and M.A.C. in both the medical and non medical areas.
It has been known for some time that Melaleuca Alternifolia anti-viral and anti-cancer properties. Tea made from Melaleuca leaves was used by Australian aboriginals long before European settlement as a tonic whilst leaf or bark poultices were applied to wounds to treat skin disorders.
Melaleuca Oil
Melaleuca oil’s antiseptic properties were confirmed around 80 years ago, at which time it was shown to be 12 times more potent than the accepted antiseptic of the era, carbolic acid. Melaleuca oil is now recognised to be bactericidal, viricidal and considerable research over the past two decades has demonstrated activity against many pathogenic organisms.
The composition of Melaleuca oil varies from variety to variety and is influenced by its environment. It is a complex mixture of over 100 components, mainly terpene hydrocarbons, mono-terpenes, sequiterpenes and their associated alcohols, and the international standard for what may be called Melaleuca oil sets maxima and minima for 14 components of the oil.
Melaleuca oil is a scheduled item - as a listed topical and oral medicines - under the Australian Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons (schedule 6 – substances with a moderate potential to cause harm but which should nonetheless not be restricted as long as appropriate packaging and labelling precautions are implemented) but is exempted under circumstances which include preparations containing 25% or less of Melaleuca oil for ingested medicines and no limit for topical use. MegaBac and M.A.C. products contain less than 5% at the highest - in topical preparations - and under 25mg/kg body weight for oral medicines.
 One class of chemical present in tea tree oil is the monoterpenes. MegaBac and M.A.C. are described by Professor Reynolds as Melaleuca oil from which at least 85% of monoterpenes have been removed. He found, contrary to expectation, that processing Melaleuca oil to remove a major portion of the monoterpene content (which may comprise up to 50% in Melaleuca oil) increases its antiseptic and microbial properties when compared to conventional Melaleuca oil. The modified oil may also be less toxic and as such considered safe for oral administration and application to open wounds. An explanation for the reduced toxicity, put forward by Professor Reynolds, is that monoterpenes are, in general, effected by air, heat and are light sensitive, with the formation of compounds which can be irritating, cancer forming and allergenic. His process removes these constituents that can be readily oxidised.
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