The present phytochemical investigation on Trichosanthes kirilowii led to the isolations of 17 compounds, including terpenoids, sterols, flavonoids, saccharide derivatives and alkaloids. In this study compounds (10-11), (1-2, 13) and (8-9, 12, 15-17) were isolated for the first time from T. kirilowii, the genera Trichosanthes, the family Cucurbitaceae respectively. The found of compounds (1-6 and 13) indicate a close relationship among the four genera Cucumis, Luffa, Cucurbita and Trichosanthes, which may be as chemotaxonomic markers for the family Cucurbitaceae. The presences of compounds (8, 9) might be employed as the common characteristic constituents of both Cucurbitaceae and Rutaceae families. Crown Copyright (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.