OBJECTIVE To isolate and identify chemical constituents of Cassia alata. METHODS Compounds were separated and purified by column chromatography with silica gel and Sephadex LH-20, elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR, IR and MS techniques. RESULTS Twelve compounds were isolated from C. alata, which were identified as chrysoeriol (1), kaempferol (2), quercetin (3), 5,7,4'-trihydroflavanone (4), kaempferol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5), kaempferol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6), 17-hydrotetratriacontane (7), n-dotriacontanol (8), n-triacontanol (9), palmitic acid ceryl ester (10), stearic acid (11), palmitic acid (12). CONCLUSIONS Compounds 3-12 were isolated from C. alata for the first time.