In the study,the novel xanthine oxidase inhibitor was selected from edible and medicinal traditional Chinese herbs.104 kinds of traditional Chinese herbs were extracted with water and ethanol respectively in which the extraction rates were analyzed.Then in vitro xanthine oxidase activity test was used to evaluate the inhibitory activity of traditional Chinese herbal extracts on xanthine oxidase.The results showed that the extraction rates of most water extracts of traditional Chinese herbs was higher than the ethanol extracts,and most of the ethanol extracts of traditional Chinese herbs had better inhibitory activity on xanthine oxidase,compared with the water extracts.The inhibition rate of ethanol extracts of Alpiniae Officinari Rhizoma,Sophorae Flos,Perillae Fructus,Caryophylli Flos,Chrysanthemi Flos,Prunellae Spica,Sophorae Flos Immaturus,Moslae Herba and Pogostemonis Herba and water extract of Sophorae Flos Immaturus on xanthine oxidase activity were more than 60%.The IC₅₀ values of Alpiniae Officinari Rhizoma,Perillae Fructus,Sophorae Flos,Sophorae Flos Immaturus and Caryophylli Flos for xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity were 8.181,23.04,36.16,38.34 and 52.03 μg/mL (the IC₅₀ of positive control(allopurinol)is 1.034 μg/mL),respectively.These data indicated that although the yield of water extraction was higher,ethanol extraction had better inhibitory activity on xanthine oxidase,especially the inhibitory activity of Alpiniae Officinari Rhizoma ethanol extract on xanthine oxidase reached 1/8 level of allopurinol,which is expected to be further studied and developed as a new xanthine oxidase inhibitor.