The main constituents of the ethyl acetate extract of Ocimum basilicum were methyl cinnamate (58.43%), camphor (6.14%) and 1,8-cineole (4.55%), while butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) (14.10%), trans-caryophyllene (9.66%), phytol (9.61%), neophytadiene (9.61%) and methyl cinnamate (7.43%) were the major compounds in the methanol extract, when were analyzed by GC–MS. The ethyl acetate extract mainly consisted of aromatic oxygenated monoterpenes (58.43%), whereas sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (25.70%) were the characteristic constituents of the methanol extract. Both ethyl acetate and methanol extracts were evaluated for antifungal activity against Bipolaris ellisii, B. hawaiensis, B. spicifera, Cochliobolus australiensis and C. cynodontis. The ethyl acetate extract exhibited complete inhibition on the mycelial growth of all fungi except C. australiensis at 16 mg/ml followed by methanol extract on B. hawaiensis, B. spicifera and C. cynodontis at the same concentration. Spore germination and germ tube elongation were completely inhibited by ethyl acetate extract for B. hawaiensis with MIC values ranged from 16 to 32 mg/ml. The methanol extract showed weak inhibition on the conidial germination and germ tube length. These results suggest that these extracts are potential and promising antifungal agents for the control of plant and human fungal pathogens.