Phytochemical investigations of Aloe sabaea afforded a new chlorinated amide, N-4'-chlorobutylbutyramide, and the toxic piperidine alkaloids coniine, gamma -coniceine and the quarternary N,N-dimethylconiine. This is the first report of the occurrence of a chlorinated compound in the Aloeaceae family. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.