A new pyrrolidine alkaloid, bgugaine, 1 was isolated along with irniine, 2, from Arisarum vulgare tubers and its structure elucidated by *H and 13C 2D-COSY NMR techniques. The antibiotic and antifungal properties of both alkaloids were investigated. They exhibited inhibitory effects on the growth of Gram-positive bacteria, yeasts and some filamentous fungi. © 1993 Harwood Academic Publishers Gmb.