This invention relates to development of an effective method for isolation of the swertiamarin from Enicostemma littorale in a good yield and purity. This method involves chromatographing a methanolic extract of dried whole plant powder material of Enicostemma littorale Blume. Swertiamarin was obtained as colourless crystals with a yield of 7.3% and purity of 97.5% by HPLC-PDA.