Abstract Essential oil was isolated from the leaves of Plectranthus amboinicus by hydrodistillation and analyzed using both gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Ten components were characterized representing 94.0% of the total components detected. The major constituents were: thymol (64.3%), p-cymene (10.3%), Î³-terpinene (9.9%) and Î²-caryophyllene (2.8%). The leaf oil demonstrated antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris and Aeromonas caviae as well as moderate fungicidal activity against Aspergillus niger.