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The  in vitro  antibacterial  activity of Rauwolfia serpentina  plant  extract has been  investigated against  Escherichia  coli, Staphylococcus  aureus,  Salmonella  typhi and  Klebsiella  pneumoniae using the  disc  diffusion  method.  The  alcoholic  extract  was  found  effective  against  Staphylococcus aureus only.  The antibacterial  activity  is  attributed to the presence of alkaloids,  which was confirmed by gas  liquid  chromatography and  positive  alkaloid  test.  The  minimum  inhibitory  concentration (MIC) was  determined  by paper  disc  diffusion  method.  The results  were  compared  with  reference antibiotic  tetracycline  (one  unit  solution).