Abstract: Objective: The optimum process of extracting saponins from Acaudina Molpadioides with ethanol was studied.Method: Based on single factor experiments,response surface methodology were adopted to analyze the effect of each factor in ethanol concentration,extraction temperature,extraction time and solid-liquid ratio on the extraction of saponins from sea cucumber. The results showed that the optimal extraction conditions were as follows: concentration of the ethanol 79%,extraction time 2.75 h,extraction temperature 73.5 ℃,solid-liquid ratio1∶ 1.7 g / m L. The impacts of factors on yield of saponins from strong to weak were solid-liquid ratio,ethanol concentration,extraction time and extraction temperature.An experimental saponins yield of 0.378% was obtained under these conditions,which basically accorded with the model predicted value.Conclusion: The obtained model was credible and could be used for actual prediction.