This study had analyzed the antibacterial, antifungal and trypanocidal activity of the essential oils from Cinnamodendron dinisii
Schwacke (Canellaceae) and Siparuna guianensis
Aublet (Siparunaceae). The essential oils were obtained from fresh leaves by hydrodistillation, using a modified Clevenger apparatus. Chemical analysis by gas-liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed that these essential oils are rich in monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. Activity against the pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli
, Listeria monocytogenes
, Pseudomonas aeruginosa
, Salmonella choleraesuis
and Staphylococcus aureus
was evaluated with the agar cavity diffusion method, while activity on the filamentous fungi Aspergillus flavus
, Aspergillus niger
, Aspergillus carbonarius
and Penicillium commune
was evaluated by the disk diffusion technique. Trypanocidal activity was tested against Trypanosoma cruzi
epimastigotes, using the Tetrazolium salt (MTT) colorimetric assay. Both essential oils exhibited low inhibitory effect towards bacteria, showing high MIC values (125–500 μg mL
−1
), with Gram positive bacteria being more susceptible. Better inhibitory effect was obtained for the evaluated fungi, with lower MIC values (7.81–250 μg mL
−1
), being A. flavus
the most susceptible species. Both essential oils presented low trypanocidal activity, with IC
50
/24 h values of 209.30 μg mL
−1
for S. guianensis
and 282.93 μg mL
−1
for C. dinisii
. Thus, the high values observed for the MIC of evaluated bacteria and for IC
50
/24 h of T. cruzi
, suggest that the essential oils have a low inhibitory activity against these microorganisms. In addition, the low MIC values observed for the tested fungi species indicate good inhibitory activity on these microorganisms’s growth.