Tacca plantaginea is a herbaceous plant found in the South of China, its rhizome has long been used for analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing. Steroidal bitter principles, taccalonolide A (I, R = Ac) and B (I, R = H) were identified by spectroscopic methods. I inhibited growth of the tumor cell line P-388 and Plasmodium berghei.

Key words: LACTONES, MOLECULAR STRUCTURE, C13 NMR SPECTROMETRY, STEROIDS, PROTON MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROMETRY, KETONE P, TACCACEAE