Ethanol extracts from Phyllanthus emblica L. were further separated into five fractions (A, B, C, D and E) on silica column by gradient elution of chloroform-methanol mixture (setting the volume ratio between them as 50:1, 20:1, 10:1, 1:1 and 0:1). Among the obtained five fractions, C and D showed significant antibacterial activity. Then they were purified into five common monomer compounds (I, II, III, IV and V) through silica gel column chromatography and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. The inhibitory effects of the five monomer compounds against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis were measured. Three of them, compound II, III and V, showed some antibacterial activities. NMR and MS analysis results showed that the three monomer compounds were gallic acid, quercetin and oleanolic acid, respectively.