Polysignine (1) and methoxypolysignine (2), two seco-benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids, together with (-)-asimilobine, oxostephanine, O-methylmoschatoline and liriodenine, have been isolated from bark of Polyalthia insignis and their structures elucidated by spectroscopic methods. (C) 1997, Elsevier Science Ltd.