Two alkaloids, canthin-6-one 9-O-beta -glucopyranoside and 7-hydroxy-beta -carboline 1-propionic acid, were isolated from the roots of Eurycoma harmandiana, together with the five known canthin-6-one alkaloids, 9-hydroxycanthin-6-one, 9-methoxycanthin-6-one, 9,10-dimethoxycanthin-6-one, canthin-6-one and canthin-6-one N-oxide, and the two known beta -carboline alkaloids, alpha -carboline 1-propionic acid and 7-methoxy-beta -carboline 1-propionic acid. Their structures were based on analyses of spectroscopic data. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.