OBJECTIVE To study the active constituents of Swertia davidi Franch.. METHODS Chromatography was used to isolate and purify the chemical components, their structures were identified by spectral analysis. RESULTS Three compounds were identified as 1,7-dihydroxy-3,8-dimethoxyxanthone (gentiacaulein) (V), 1,8-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyxanthone (methylswertianin) (VI) and 1,8-dihydroxy-3,4,7-trimethoxyxanthone (VII). CONCLUSIONS Compound VII is a novel xanthone, named daviditin A, the others were isolated from Swertia davidi Franch. for the first time.