Abstract: The aim at developed an optimal procedure for the microwave- assisted extraction of polysaccharides from taro.Based on the single factor experimental results, Box- Benhnken experimental design was used to select the most important ones affecting extraction of taro polysaccharides, the optimal values of selected parameters, namely water extraction time, water extraction temperature, microwave power and microwave treatment time. Response surface experiments were used to optimize the extraction efficiency of a mathematic model between the factors and the index was established.Results showed that the optimal extraction parameters were water extraction time of 3h, water extraction temperature of 82℃, microwave power of 395W and microwave treatment time of 77s. The actual polysaccharides yield was 5.57% , compared with the theoretical value the relative error was less than 0.5%. The regression equation which was optimized by response surface method had a certain practical significance.