| Abstract
| - Backhousia citriodora products are used as bushfoods and flavorings and by the aromatherapyindustry. The antimicrobial activity of 4 samples of B. citriodora oil, leaf paste, commercial tea (0.2and 0.02 g/mL), and hydrosol (aqueous distillate) were tested against 13 bacteria and 8 fungi. Littleor no activity was found to be associated with the leaf tea and hydrosol, respectively. Leaf pastedisplayed antimicrobial activity against 7 bacteria including Clostridium perfringens, Pseudomonasaeruginosa, and a hospital isolate of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The 4essential oils were found to be effective antibacterial and antifungal agents; however, variation wasapparent between oils that did not correlate with citral content. The antimicrobial activity of B. citriodoraessential oils was found to be greater than that of citral alone and often superior to Melaleucaalternifolia essential oil. B. citriodora has significant antimicrobial activity that has potential as anantiseptic or surface disinfectant or for inclusion in foods as a natural antimicrobial agent. Keywords: Backhousia citriodora; essential oil; antimicrobial; citral; lemon myrtle
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