Essential oil of Arazá (Eugenia stipitata McVaugh) with antibacterial activity

Introduction: Peru is one of the countries with the greatest biodiversity in botanical species, some with known medicinal properties. Objective: To determine the antibacterial effect of the essential oil of Eugenia stipitata McVaugh leaves against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Salmonella enterica sv Enteritidis ATCC 13076. Methods: Basic study with a quantitative and experimental approach. Plants came from the district of Belén, city of Iquitos, Department of Loreto. The technique for the extraction of the essential oil was steam dragging and the microbiological technique to determine the antimicrobial effect was Kirby Bauer's technique. The samples were worked in 4 concentrations 100, 75, 50 and 25% and a negative control only with dimethyl sulfoxide, using 5 replicates for each sample. Results: The sample at 100% concentration had antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The activity of the assay against Escherichia coli proved to be effective in all the samples, however, it was observed that the inhibition halos of greater diameter were manifested in the samples at 100 % and 75 %. In addition, antibacterial activity was evidenced at concentrations of 100%, 75% and 50% against Salmonella enterica sv Enteritidis. Conclusions: The essential oil of Eugenia stipitata McVaugh leaves has an antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica sv Enteritidis.