Objective The volatile components and antibacterial activities of hydrosols from Cinnamomum camphora leaves were studied in order to provide references for the use of hydrosols as natural preservatives and disinfection products.

Method Taking leaves of linalool, citral, cineol and borneol type camphor tree 〔Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl〕 as research objects, the hydrosols were extracted by steam distillation, and the volatile components, physicochemical properties and antibacterial effects of hydrosols were discussed.

Result The main component in hydrosol of linalool type camphor leaf was linalool, with a relative mass of 74.03%; the main components of hydrosol in citral type camphor leaf were neroli and geranial, with a relative mass of 14.23% and 29.26%, respectively; the main component in hydrosol of cineol type camphor leaf was 1, 8-cineole, with a relative mass of 50.36%; and the main component in hydrosol of borneol type camphor leaf was borneol, with a relative mass of 82.27%. Hydrosol of linalool camphor leaf had the best antibacterial effect, and its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for all bacteria and fungi was 250 μL/mL, followed by hydrosols of cineol and citral camphor leaves with d better antibacterial effect. Hydrosol of cineol type camphor leaf had the best bactericidal effect, the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against all bacteria and fungi was 250 μL/mL, followed by hydrosols of borneol type and linalool type camphor leaves.

Conclusion Hydrosol of linalool type leaf had the best antibacterial effect, followed by that of citral and cineol type. Hydrosol of cineol type leaf had the best bactericidal effect, followed by that of borneol and linalool type.