Aim To study the chemical constituents from the roots of Derris elliptica (Roxb.) Benth. Methods The chemical constituents were isolated by various chromatographic methods, and the chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis. Result Four lipid constituents were obtained, including three ceramides, (2 S, 3 S, 4 R, 8 E)-2 N-[(2′ R, 3′)-2′, 3′-dihydroxyhexacosanoyl]-1, 3, 4-trihydroxy-8-octadecene ( 1), (2 S, 3 S, 4 R, 8 E)-2 N-[(2′ R)-2′-hydroxyhexacosanoyl]-1, 3, 4-trihydroxy-8-octadecene ( 2), 1- O−β-D-glucopyranosyl-(2 S, 3 S, 4 R, 8 E)-2 N-[(2′ R)-2′-hydroxytetracosanoyl]-3, 4-dihydroxy-8-octadecene ( 3), and a poly-hydroxyl octadecenoic acid, 12, 13, 15-trihydroxy-9-octadecenoic acid ( 4). Conclusion Compound 1 is a novel ceramide with hydroxyl group at C-3′, and is the first occurrence of ceramides with hydroxyl group at C-3′. Compounds 2–4 were isolated from genus Derris for the first time.