The phytochemical and antibacterial activity of different fractions (hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol) obtained from leaves of tapak dara (Catharanthus roseus L.G. Don) has been investigated as a part of a new searching on antibacterial compounds. The phytochemical screenings showed that the hexane fraction contains terpenoids and steroids, while both the ethyl acetate and methanol fractions contain alkaloids and flavonoids. The antibacterial activity was determined by disc agar-diffusion method against E. coli. The ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest inhibitory zone than hexane or methanol. It represents an important step for the search and development of a new antibacterial agent.