From the epigeal part of Pedicularis macrochila collected in the gorge of the R. Dzhetyagus on June 8, 1972, we have obtained 0.18% of total alkaloids, from which we have isolated plantagonine [1], noractinidine [2], and a base CnH13NO3 with mp 380-382°C, Rf 0.91 [in the butyl acetate-chloroform (9: 1) system]. The latter proved to be identical with gentiananine [3]. The IR spectrum of the base [λmax 219,265 nm (log ε 3.69, 3.76)] is characteristic for pyridine alkaloids. In the IR spectrum of gentiananine there are absorption bands for the lactone of a carbonyl group at 1735 cm⁻¹ and for an aromatic ring at 1600 cm⁻¹. On the basis of its UV and IR spectra, gentiananine has the skeleton of gentianine [4]. The NMR spectrum of gentiananine (CCl4, δ scale) has signals at 3.38ppm (3H, singlet, methoxy group) and 2.25 and 1.78 ppm (3H and 3H, singlets, C-methyl groups), and in the weak-field region (6.0-10.0 ppm) there are no signals of protons. Consequently, in the base all the aromatic protons have been replaced. In the NMR spectra of pyridine alkaloids substituents present in the α position are revealed in weaker fields than those in the β position. On this basis it may be concluded that one of the C-methyl groups in gentiananine is present in the α position and the other in the β position. Thus, structures (I) and (II) are possible for gentiananine. On the basis of the biogenesis of the gentian alkaloids [5], (I) is the more probable.