Basil is known as ‘Herbe Royale’ which has potential as a source of antibacterial compounds which emphasizing in the importance of humans’ health and food manufacturing in the future. This study evaluated the antibacterial activities of the methanol extracts of two Ocimum spp. which include Ocimum basilicum L. and Ocimum basilicum var. purpurascens. These methanol extracts were tested against four pathogenic bacteria; Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. Significant antibacterial activity was shown for these tested crude extracts in agar disc diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) tests. The methanol extracts of these basil species were most effective against Gram-positive bacteria and least effective against E. coli which is the Gram-negative bacteria in agar disc diffusion method. The sweet basil showed highest diameter inhibition zone with 16.33 ± 1.53 mm against B. cereus while the red rubin basil exhibited 11.33 ± 1.15 mm against S. aureus. Minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration were assessed by microdilution method and the results showed that the extracts of O. basilicum L. and O. basilicum var. purpurascens strongly inhibited the growth of all the tested pathogens, especially the Gram-positive strains, whereas the moderate inhibition activity against Gram-negative strains. The result may suggest that, these two basil extracts possess compound with good antibacterial properties that can be used as antibacterial agents in the search for new drugs.