Abstract The essential oil from seeds of Bowdichia virgilioides Kunt (Fabaceae) growing in Brazil was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-FID and GC/MS. This analysis resulted in the identification of 17 components. The main constituents of the essential oil were b-elemene (6.9%), Î²-caryophyllene (44.1%), germacrene D (7.9%), bicyclogermacrene (6.4%) and caryophyllene oxide (8.9%). The oil was tested for its antimicrobial activity against seven bacteria using the standard gel diffusion method.