An inmunosuppressive, tryptophan-derived alkaloid cristatin A (1), and two known compounds, cycloartenol and stigmasta-5,11(12)-diene-3 beta -ol, were isolated from the whole plant Lepidagathis cristata Willd, The structures of the isolates were established by interpretation of their spectral data. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.