Abstract: To optimize the process conditions of microwave extraction of lycorine from wild Lycoris herb, the single factor experiments of the solid-liquid ratio, microwave watt, extraction temperature, extraction time and extraction times were made by means of using wild Lycoris herb as raw material and ethanol as extractant, and the optimal technics conditions of the extraction were obtained by orthogonal experiment L₉(3⁴). Effects of the microwave extraction were compared with those of conventional solvent extraction. Results showed that the optimal conditions of microwave extraction were as follows: the ratio of sample to solvent was 1:6 (g:mL), microwave watt 320 W, extraction temperature 60℃, extraction time 6 min, and extraction 2 times. The extraction ratio and yield of lycorine were 95.5% and 0.0391%, respectively. The concentration of lycorine in the extract was 12.35%. Compared with the conventional solvent method, the microwave method had advantages of less extraction time, higher extraction ratio and less extraction times. The general effect of microwave method was better than that of conventional solvent method.