this study aimed to evaluate the chemical and antibacterial properties of the essential oil of b. dracunculifolia from three regions of brazil: midwest, southeast and south region. the major compounds of essential oil from midwest region were (e)-nerolidol (28.15%) and spathulenol (17.68%), both oxygenated sesquiterpenes. and the major compounds of essential oils from southeast and south regions were (e)-nerolidol (12.75-13.95%), bicyclogermacrene (10.76-14.21%) and limonene (10.49-19.36%). the three essential oils showed antibacterial activity for both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria tested, with mic values from 0.03 to 0.15 mg/ml and mbc values from 0.05 to 0.30 mg/ml. the b. dracunculifolia essential oil from the midwest region of brazil presented higher values of oxygenated sesquiterpenes and was more effective on all tested bacterial strains, with lower and statistically significant mbc values, compared to the oils from the southeast and south regions of brazil