Abstract: A method for fast analysis of volatile compounds from Illicium verum was established.This method was performed by using headspace solid phase microextraction(HS-SPME) with a polyacrylate(PA),coated fiber coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.The influence of HS-SPME operating is variables such as extraction time,extraction temperature,the sample size,thermal desorption time was examined in order to optimize the efficiency of extraction and desorption of SPME.The optimal parameters shows that 0.1 g sample was placed in a 15ml vial,extracted for 40 min at 60℃,and then desorping for 2 min at 250℃.The results showed that 53 compounds were identified by PA coating layer,and also showed that the performance with PA coating layer was better than with the other two coating layers: CAR/PDMS and DVB/CAR/PDMS.