Respiratory system disorders are a common cause of illnesses, sometimes even very serious ones, which significantly impact people's quality of life. Research has shown that in addition to medications, some supplements can help fight these ailments. In particular, tea tree supplements are gaining attention for their potential applications in the treatment of respiratory disorders.

The tea tree, or Melaleuca alternifolia, has been used for centuries in traditional medicine for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties [1]. For this reason, IPS is placing its attention in the production of microencapsulated active ingredients useful to produce supplements for respiratory system disorders.

In addition to the Tea Tree-based microcapsules, other active ingredients are particularly functional for this purpose, such as:

• Microcapsules with cinnamon essential oil which, containing cinnamaldehyde, eugenol and linalool, have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Microcapsules of lavender essential oil, an ingredient with sedative and pain-relieving properties which is an excellent adjuvant for many symptoms associated with colds or flu, such as congestion, headaches, muscle aches, cough, and insomnia.
• Microcapsules of oregano essential oil, containing carvacrol which boasts antimicrobial properties
• Microcapsules of rosemary essential oil, able to relax the muscles of the trachea, giving relief to the respiratory tract:
• Microcapsules of peppermint essential oil which, containing a lot of menthol, perform a decongestant action.

What makes IPS microcapsules so effective is not only their content, but their manufacturing method. In fact, the company uses a decidedly cutting-edge technique: microencapsulation by coacervation. In addition to guaranteeing total protection against external agents and against the degradation of the raw material, microencapsulation offers a number of other advantages.

In this case, one of the greatest strengths is the masking of odors and flavors. In fact, we know very well how difficult it can be to take ingredients such as tea tree due to their pungent taste. The polymeric membrane that envelops the substance considerably reduces this nuisance, furthermore guaranteeing a conveyance of the raw material directly into the gastrointestinal tract, where its action is most effective.

With its commitment to scientific research, IPS constantly develops innovative solutions for the nutraceutical industry. Supplements containing tea tree oil microcapsules are the demonstration of how science and innovation can work together to arrive at offering consumers high-quality, effective products that are attentive to their needs.