Abstract: From the roots of the folk drug Veratrilla baillonii Franch. three xanthones were isolated. One is a known compound, 1-hydroxy 2,3,4,7-tetramethoxy xanthone (Ⅲ); the other two are new xanthones, their structures being elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic (UV, IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, MS) methods. The yellow needles, C₁₅H₁₂O₆, M⁺288, mp 285～8℃, is 1,7-dihydroxy 3,4-dimethoxy xanthone (Ⅰ) and named veratrilogenin; the other kind of yellow needles, C₂₁H₂₂O₁₁, M⁺450, mp 272～5℃, is 1-hydroxy-7-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl 3,4-dimethoxy xanthone (Ⅱ)and named veratriloside. The total xanthones of Ⅴ. baillonii were shown to have significant sedative activities in mice.