The ethyl acetate extract of Polygala cyparissias afforded three unknown and three known simple xanthones. The structures of the former were established by spectroscopic methods as 1,7-dihydroxy-2,3-methylenedioxy-,1,3,6,8-tetrahydroxy-2,7-dimethoxy- and 1,3,7-trihydroxy-2-methoxyxanthone. Moreover, the hexane extract gave an uncommon sterol (alpha-spinasterol) and high yields of methyl salicylate. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.