A new indole alkaloid, vallesiachotamine lactone, and four known compounds strictosidine, strictosamide, vallesiachotamine and angustine were isolated from the aerial parts of Cephaelis dichroa. Structures were established by spectroscopic methods (UV, IR, mass spectrometry, 1H and 13C NMR, including COSY 45 and 1H13C heterocorrelation). Isovallesiachotamine was detected as a degradation product of vallesiachotamine. © 1993.