Chemical Composition and Antibacterial Activity Against Food-Borne Pathogens of Six Essential Oils from Plants in Northeastern Peru

Background: Essential oils (EOs) are promising natural antimicrobials against food-borne pathogens, yet their efficacy depends on complex chemical profiles that vary by species and origin. The evaluation of underexplored aromatic plants from the Peruvian Amazon may reveal novel bioactive agents. Methods: We chemically characterized six EOs from Aloysia citrodora, Arracacia xanthorrhiza (two cultivars), Baccharis genistelloides, Piper acutifolium, and Piper lanceifolium using GC-MS and assessed their antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Salmonella enterica (ATCC 14028), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 49476). Results: EOs of Aloysia citrodora and Arracacia xanthorrhiza cv. Yellow exhibited the strongest inhibition, effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, potentially associated with higher relative abundances of oxygenated monoterpenes and aliphatic aldehydes. Dose–response analysis supported their superior antibacterial potency, with the lowest LD50 values observed for these oils. Oils rich in sesquiterpenes showed lower activity. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of EO chemical composition for antibacterial potency and suggest that select Amazonian EOs have potential as natural preservatives for food safety applications.