Abstract Total alkaloids of sophora flavescens were extracted by macromethod and micromethod,and extraction rate of alkaloids, reagent consumption and extracting time were compared. The results showed that the yield of alkaloids by micromethod was 0.565%, slightly higher than the yield of macromethod. Consumption of sophora flavescens and reagents including ethanol, chloroform and aqueous ammonia by micromethod was about 10% and 30% of that by macromethod respectively. Macromethod took 29 h to complete the whole assay, whereas micromethod needed only 6.5 h.