A new alkaloid called crambain was isolated from total alkaloids of two plant species of the genus Crambe, C. kotschyana Boiss. and C. orientalis L. (Cruciferae, mustard). The structure N-(butylidene-3')-5-hydroxy-6-oxopiperidine was established based on physicochemical properties and spectral data. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.