Two new Amaryllidaceae alkaloids, 1-O-(3-hydroxybutyryl)pancratistatin and 1-O-(3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosylbutyryl)pancratistatin, were isolated from the bulbs of Zephyranthes carinata. The structures of the two alkaloids were established by comprehensive spectral analysis. The cytotoxicity of these two alkaloids and pancratistatin is appraised. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.