Objective: To establish and perfect a method for determining the content of total atractylosides in Xanthium sibiricum. Method: Total atractylosides was extracted with water,the content of total atractylosides was determined by UV with carbxyatractyloside as a reference substance. Result: Absorbance and the concentration of carboxyl atractyloside showed good linear relationship in the range of 0-0.24 g·L-1 (r=0.998 2),the average recovery was 100.99% with RSD 3.57%. Conclusion: This method was simple and affordable with good repeatability.