Introduction:

The use of essential oils from medicinal plants has been shown to possess antibacterial properties against various bacterial species.

Objective:

To identify the chemical composition of the essential oil of Minthostachys mollis (Griseb) L. and determine its antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus.

Methods:

An experimental study was performed in vitro. EpiInfoTM software was used to calculate the repetitions. Essential oil of M. mollis was obtained from the high Andean region of Peru. The chemical composition was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry; antibacterial activity was evaluated by means of the disk diffusion method, in addition the minimum inhibitory concentration and the minimum bactericidal concentration were identified.

Results:

The main constituents of the essential oil were menthone (32.9 %) and eucalyptol (28.06 %). The essential oil was effective in inhibiting the growth of S. mutans and L. acidophilus, with inhibition halos of 19.040 ± 0.883 mm and 18.008 ± 0.861 mm. Chlorhexidine 0.12 % was more effective than essential oil in inhibiting the growth of L. acidophilus (p < 0.05). A concentration of 1.6 % (v/v) of the essential oil was inhibitory and bactericidal against S. mutans; for L. acidophilus a concentration of 3.2 % (v/v) was inhibitory.

Conclusions:

The main constituents of the essential oil of M. mollis were menthone and eucalyptol and it was shown to be effective in inhibiting the growth of S. mutans and L. acidophilus.

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