Compound B, the major component present in the Indian shrub, Salacia prinoides (DeCondolle), Celastraceae (Hippocrateaceae), was degraded further into a bisdesoxo derivative via dehydration of the known dihydrodesoxo compound followed by catalytic hydrogenation. Oxidative study of the dehydration product indicated that the dehydration was not accompanied by any rearrangement of the carbon skeleton. A couple of analogous derivatives of the other component, compound A, has been prepared. Chromatography on alumina column was shown to be a better and more clear-cut method of separation of the two components. The method was particularly suitable for the purification of Compound A.