Engaging in physical activities such as exercise or sports often results in sweating, which is considered a healthy practice for promoting well-being. However, excessive sweating during daily life, especially when accompanied by unpleasant odors, can indicate poor hygiene and lead to discomfort and social problems. Deodorants and antiperspirants are commonly used to eliminate body odor, but their potential side effects have encouraged the search for natural alternatives. This study investigated the antibacterial properties of ten medicinal plant extracts traditionally used to mitigate body odor. Using ethanol extracts, the antibacterial activity was assessed through agar well diffusion and microbroth dilution methods against common axillary bacteria, such as Staphylococcus epidermidis, Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum, and Corynebacterium jeikeium. The plant extracts showed diverse antibacterial effects, with inhibition zones ranging from 0.0 ± 0.0 to 16.33 ± 0.57 mm. The MIC and MBC values were recorded between 1.563 and 0.098 mg/mL. Extracts of Piper betle, Syzygium aromaticum, and Curcuma xanthorrhiza showed significant effects in inhibiting the growth of bacteria responsible for body odor, indicating their potential as natural components in deodorant and antiperspirant formulations.
