A new alkaloid, sellowiine (N1-demethyl-20-deethyl suaveoline), was obtained from leaves of Rauwolfia sellowii collected at two different locations in southern Brazil. Also obtained were the known alkaloids, perakine, raucaffrinoline, vomilenine, 19α,20α-epoxy-akuammicine, picrinine and 12-demethoxytabernulosine. The NMR spectra of the alkaloids were assigned completely. Copyright © 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.