Parsonsianine, a 14-membered macrocyclic pyrrolizidine alkaloid, composed of retronecine, (2S, 3R)-2,3-dihydroxy-2-ethylbutanoic acid and (2R, 3S)-2,3-dihydroxy-2-isopropylbutanedioic acid, was isolated from the leaves of Parsonsia laevigata and the structure was determined by means of nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray analysis.