An　improved　fast　method　for　extraction　of　steroidal　saponins　in　Tribulus　terrestris　based　on　the　use　of　focus　microwave-assisted　extraction　(FMAE)　is　proposed.　Under　optimized　conditions,　four　steroidal　saponins　were　extracted　from　Tribulus　terrestris　and　identified　by　GC-MS,　which　are　Tigogenin　(TG),　Gitogenin　(GG),　Hecogenin　(HG)　and　Neohecogenin　(NG).　One　of　the　most　important　steroidal　saponins,　namely　TG　was　quantified　finally.　The　recovery　of　TG　was　in　the　range　of　86.7-91.9%　with　RSD＜5.2%.　The　conventional　heating　reflux　extraction　was　also　conducted　in　order　to　validate　the　reliability　of　this　new　FMAE　method.　The　yield　of　total　steroidal　saponins　was　90.3%　in　a　one-step　FMAE,　while　the　yield　of　65.0%　was　achieved　during　heating　reflux　extraction,　and　the　extraction　time　was　reduced　from　3　h　to　5　min　by　using　less　solvent.　The　method　was　successfully　applied　to　analyze　the　steroidal　saponins　of　Tribulus　terrestris　from　different　areas　of　occurrence.　The　difference　in　chromatographic　characteristics　of　steroidal　saponins　was　proved　to　be　related　to　the　different　areas　of　occurrence.　The　results　showed　that　FMAE-GC-MS　is　a　simple,　rapid,　solvent-saving　method　for　the　extraction　and　determination　of　steroidal　saponins　in　Tribulus　terrestris.　©　2009　WILEY-VCH　Verlag　GmbH　&　Co.　KGaA,　Weinheim.