Objective: To optimize processing technology of steamed Polygonati Rhizoma contained in 2005 edition of ‘Guizhou Province Chinese Herbal Pieces Processing Specification’

then to compare with single steaming processing method and multiple steam drying processing method. Method: Taking composite score of water-soluble extract

ethanol-soluble extract

total polysaccharides and total saponins as index

steaming process of Polygonati Rhizoma contained in 2005 edition of ‘Guizhou Province Chinese Herbal Pieces Processing Specification’ was optimized by factorial experiment

and compared with other processing methods.UV was adopted to determine contents of total polysaccharides and total saponins with detection wavelength of 582

543 nm

respectively. Result: Optimum processing technology was as following:steamed 8 h

moistened 12 h;composite score of this optimized process was significant higher than single steaming 6 h method and four steaming four processing method.The mass fractions of water-soluble extract were 70.21%

69.43% and 74.42%

ethanol-soluble extract were 70.09%

67.12% and 73.37%

total polysaccharides were 12.55%

11.37% and 10.57%

total saponins were 12.26%

9.73% and 8.41%

respectively. Conclusion: This optimized process about 2005 edition of “Guizhou Province Chinese Herbal Pieces Processing Specification” is superior to the other two ways.