Two new preganae-type steroidal alkaloids, (20S, 2'Z)-20-(N,N-dimethylamino)-3 beta-(2-methyl- 2Z-butenamido)-pregn-5-en-4-one and (20S, 2'Z)-20-(N,N-dimethylamino)-3 beta-(2-methyl-2Z-butenamido)- pregna-5,14-dien-4-one, have been isolated from an ethanolic extract of the roots and stems of Sarcococca saligna, in addition to the two known alkaloids, N-formylchonemorphine and vaganine-A, which have been isolated for the first time from this species. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.