SUMMARY
Fourteen amazonian plant species, commomly used in the preparation of aromatic waters and household desinfection agents, were selected. Their essential oils were tested for antibacterical activity. The oils of Piper hispidinervium, Aniba rosaeodora and Alpinia speciosa were found to be active against at least five out of nine pathogenic bacteria. Separation of the volatile constituents of the former two species led to safrole and linalol, respectively. The analogous analysis of the oil from Alpinia was impossible in view of the complexity of its constitution. Safrole and linalol were shown to be responsible for the antimicrobial activity of the respective essential oils.