OBJECTIVE: To optimize the technology of extracting total flavonoids from Sophora japonica.METHODS: The extracting technology of total flavonoids (from Sophora japonica) was optimized by response surface methodology(RSM) with ethanol concentration,solid-solvent ratio,extracting temperature,extracting time and extracting times as factors and the yield of total flavonoids as index.RESULTS: The optimal parameters were determined as follows: the ethanol concentration was 60%;the solid-solvent ratio was 1∶10;the extracting was conducted for 1 time(90 min) at 90 ℃.CONCLUSION:The optimized extraction technology was simple and stable and which serves as references for industrial large scale production.