Abstract The chemical analysis of the Salvia amplexicaulis Lam. herb essential oil was performed using GC-FID and GC/MS. Fifty-one compounds (90.2% of the total oil) were identified. The oil was characterized by a high amount of sesquiterpenes (81.1%), with germacrene D (14.8%), viridiflorol (10.6%), caryophyllene oxide (10.5%), and Î²-caryophyllene (9.4%) being the main components. The microbial growth inhibitory properties of the oil was determined against Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, St. epidermidis, Micrococcus luteus Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and a yeast Candida albicans. The best inhibitory effect was detected against M. luteus followed by the effects against St. epidermidis, St. aureus and C. albicans. Tested Gram-negative bacteria were more resistant than Gram-positive bacteria and C. albicans.