In recent decades, essential oils (EOs) have become an important alternative source of antimicrobial agents. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of EOs obtained from the leaves of Myrcianthes leucoxylaMc. Vaughn., Vallea stipularisL.f and Phyllanthus salviifoliusKunth for prevalent microbial strains and also to contribute to the knowledge of their chemical composition. EOs were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS. The main compounds for V. stipularisEO were α-tujene (6.6%) and cedrene epoxide (12.0%), for M. leucoxilaEO 1,8 cineole (6.3%) and caryophyllene oxide (21.7%), and for P. salviifoliusaristolene (17.3%) and geranyl tiglate (15.9%). Antimicrobial tests showed that M. leucoxylaEO was the most active, showing zones of inhibition against all strains used, specifically against Pseudomonas aeruginosaand Salmonella typhimuriumwith percentages of inhibition higher than 50%. Compared with positive controls, this activity may be related to the presence of 1,8 cineole.