Zingiber officinale Roscoe and Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae) essential oils were obtained by the hydrodistillation method. The oils offered yields of 0.120% and 0.044% respectively. GC-MS analyzes allowed the identification of 11 constituents in the Curcuma longa essential oil, with major components: ar-turmerone (36.8%), β-tumerone (32.3%) and curlone (19,2%) For the Zingiber officinale essential oil 19 constituents were identified, being: neral (22.9%), zingiberene (15.5%) and geranial (14.9%) the main components. The result of the toxicity test showed significant activity against Artemia salina for both oils. The dose values required to eliminate 50% (LC50) of the larvae were 100 µg / mL for Z. officinale and 25 µg / mL for C. longa. The antioxidant activity was performed against DPPH free radical. The most significant activity was exhibited by Z. officinale with an IC50 value of 215.8 µg / mL. The antibacterial assay with Z. officinale oil showed efficacy against S. aureus and E. coli, with MIC values of ≥ 213.3 μg / mL and 85.3 μg / mL respectively. For C. longa, MIC values ≥ 1024 μg / mL were observed for both bacteria tested. Modulation with aminoglycoside antibiotics showed synergism of C. longa oil combined with amikacin against S. aureus, with a decrease in MIC from 1024 μg / mL to 14.7 μg / mL. Meanwhile, the Zingiber officinale oil obtained a MIC reduction to 6.7 μg / mL, demonstrating greater efficacy. The results observed here demonstrate the biological potential of the species as cytotoxic and antimicrobial.