Two New alkaloids, l-(l-hydroxy-2-methoxy)ethyl-4-methoxy-β-carboline (IV) and 5-hydroxymethylcanthin-6-one (V), have been isolated from the root bark of Ailanthus altissima swingle (simaroubaceae) together with three known alkaloids, β-carboline-1 -propionic acid (I), l-carbamoyl-β-carboline (II), and l-carbomethoxy-β-carboline (III). The structures were elu-cidated on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence. © 1984, The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan. All rights reserved.