<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>The two main classes of secondary metabolites, alkaloids and quinovic acid glycosides, of <jats:italic>Uncaria tomentosa</jats:italic> (Willd.) DC. (Rubiaceae), a Peruvian plant commonly known as ‘uña de gato’, have been analysed. Separation of the alkaloidal fraction was achieved using a solid phase extraction method based on cationic exchange, and an analytical method employing HPLC‐ES/MS has been developed. Quantitative data for commercial wild bark, cultivated bark and leaves are reported. The analysis of quinovic acid glycosides was performed directly on the crude extract using both a fast analytical method based on flow injection ES/MS, and a more complete analytical technique using HPLC‐MS. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.