Abstract: Evening primrose seed was used as raw material for extraction of saponins and steroids,95% ethanol was employed as extracting solvent,and optimum extracting conditions were investigated.The extracts were confirmed to be saponins and steroids by IR and ultraviolet spectrum.The results showed that the optimum conditions were as follows:extracting time 8 hours,the weight ratio of seed to solvent was 1∶8,reflux temperature.The extraction ratio of saponins and steroids are 0.405% and 0.313% respectively.

Key words: evening primrose seed, saponin, steroid