OBJECTIVE To study the inhibition effect of Salvinia natans ( L. ) All. on harmful algae. METHODS With Microcystis aeruginosa as the subjects, deionized water, ethanol, acetone, ethyl acetate as solvent, four kinds of crude extracts from Salvinia natans (L.) All. were prepared, and their alga-inhibiting actions were verified, respectively. The crude extracts of Salvinia natans (L.) All. with better inhibition effect were selected. The components of algal inhibiting material through macroporous resin purification were obtained, and determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). RESULTS The algicidal effect as follows: ethyl acetate extract > acetone crude extract > ethanol crude extract > water crude extract. Meanwhile, the inhibitory substances of Salvinia natans (L.) All. may be: diacetone alcohol, methyl isobutenyl ketone, 5-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)-1-hexanol, pentadecanal, 14-heptadecenal, cumene, butyl acetate, ascorbyl dipalmitate, 1, 2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, mono (2- ethylhexyl) ester, dibutyl phthalate and phthalic acid, butyl undecane ester. CONCLUSIONS The algal inhibiting effect research of Salvinia natans (L.) All., as well as its separation and identification of allelochemicals supplys theoretical basis and practical evidence not only for algae control, but also exploitation of algal inhibiting agent.