Abstract: Twelve compounds were isolated from the roots of Rubia cordifolia L.. Nine of them were established by chemical and spectroscopic methods te be alizarin (Ⅰ), 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-9, 10-anthraquinone (Ⅱ), 1, 3, 6-trihydroxy-2-methyl,-9, 10-anthra-quinone-3-O-(6'-O-acetyl)-α-L-rhamnosyl(1→2)-β-D-glucoside (Ⅲ), 1, 3, 6-trihydrozy-2-methyl-9, 10-anthraquinone-3-O-α-L-rhamnosyl(1→2)-β-D-giucoside(Ⅳ), 1, 3, 6-trihydrozy-2-methyl-9, 10-anthraquinone-3-O-(6'-O-acetyl)-β-D-glucoside(Ⅴ), 2-carbomethoxy -3-prenyl-1, 4-naphthohydroqumone d₁-β-D-glucoside(Ⅵ), rubimalim(Ⅶ), β-sitosterel (Ⅷ) and daucosterol (Ⅸ), among them, Ⅴ is a nwe compound and Ⅸ was obtained: from this genus for the first time. Ⅲ, Ⅵ and Ⅶ showed certain antibacterial activities.