This study was carried out to evaluate the antibacterial activity of ethanol, methanol, acetone, and ethyl acetate extracts of the brown seaweeds, Cystoseira myrica, Padina boergesenii and Sargassum cinereum (Phaeophyta), as well as to identify the phytochemical constituents of the most effective algal extracts. Antibacterial activities were expressed as inhibition zones and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the algal extracts. All seaweed extracts tested exhibited a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity. The maximum inhibition activities were recorded for methanolic extracts of P. boergesenii and ethyl acetate extracts of C. myrica and S. cinereum against Shigella flexneri, Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. The MIC values of the marine algal extracts tested for inhibiting pathogenic bacteria ranged from 3.13 to 300 mg/ml. GC-MS and FTIR analyses of algal extracts revealed the chemical components and their functional constituents in the brown seaweeds that might have potent antimicrobial activities. These components include fatty acids esters, alcohols, phenols, amines-containing compounds and others. The results indicated that brown seaweeds may be main sources of phytoconstituents which exhibited antibacterial properties and will be helpful in diminishing the adverse effects of synthetic drugs.