According to Dr. Chillemi, active compounds present in tea tree oil include 8-cineole, terpinen-4-ol, a-terpineol and lineol.
MedlinePlus states that the oil’s antimicrobial properties probably arise from the compound terpinen-4-ol. Other features of tea tree oil that may contribute to making it an effective wound care treatment include its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiseptic properties.