A process for the purification of galanthamine (I) comprising precipitationof galanthamine hydrobromide from a mixture of alkaloids obtained from a plantof the family containing galanthamine, treatment ofthe hydrobromide with alkali, extraction and crystallization of galanthaminewith a solvent of general formula (II), in which R is hydrogen or methyland R is selected from -butyl, isobutyl, -butyland -butyl. The resulting pure galanthamine can be conveniently usedfor the preparation of galanthamine hydrobromide.
