<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>An efficient system for the analysis of indole alkaloids by HPLC on a reversed‐phase column using an ion pair technique is described. The optimised chromatographic conditions allowed the successful separation of 22 standard monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (including some isomers) and tryptamine. The described HPLC system was applied to the analysis of alkaloids in intergeneric somatic hybrid cell cultures of <jats:italic>Rauvolfia serpentina</jats:italic> × <jats:italic>Rhazya stricta</jats:italic>. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.