A new beta-carboline alkaloid named sacleuximine A (1) together with known compounds palmatine (2), isotetrandrine (3), trans-N-feruloyltyramine (4), trans-N-caffeoyltyramine (5), yangambin (6), syringaresinol (7), sesamin (8), (+) epi-quercitol (9), 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (10), beta-sitosterol (11), quercetin 3-O-rutinoside (12) and myricetin 3-O-beta-glucose (1. 6) alpha-rhamnoside (13) have been isolated from methanol extract of Triclisia sacleuxii aerial parts. Compounds 1-10 were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against human adenocarcinoma (HeLa), human hepatocarcinoma (Hep3B) and human breast carcinoma (MCF-7) cells lines and also for antibacterial activities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The cytotoxicity (IC (50)) values ranged between 0.15 and 36.7 mu M while the minimum inhibitory concentrations were found to be in the range of 3.9 and 125 mu M, respectively. This is the first report of antibacterial compounds and the isolation of lignans together with a beta-carboline alkaloid from T. sacleuxii.