Abstract: Using an alcohol precipitation and water extraction technique, the polysaccharides in potentilla discolor were extracted by the microwave extraction. First, the microwave extraction technique of polysaccharides in potentilla discolor was optimized through the single factor analysis. Then, four factors were chosen to conduct the orthogonal experiments. The optimum extraction conditions were as follows: the alcohol precipitation was performed with alcohol (the ratio of solid to liquid was 1:30) for 20 min, water (pH=7.0, the ratio of solid to liquid was 1:70) was used as the extraction agent, the extraction temperature was 60 ℃, and extraction time was 10 min. In addition, the contents of polysaccharides in different parts of potentilla discolor were also determined. The results showed that the content of polysaccharides in the stem is the highest, and those in root and leaf are the next and third.