We have studied the crude essential oil and crude ethanol extract from Myrtus communis leaves for possible antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria. The halos of growth inhibition had been evaluated through the techniques of "template" and disk diffusion assays to the strains Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Serratia marcescens. The results demonstrated that M. communis oil presented superior antibacterial activity to all strains. The template assay was the best method to determine the antibacterial activity exhibited by the oil and extract to the strains. E. coli was resistant to the oil and ethanol extract tested.
Myrtus communis; antimicrobial activity; essential oil; ethanol extract
