A capillary electrophoresis method coupled with amperometric detection（CE/AD） was developed for the determination of echinacoside in Cistanche deserticola Y.C.Ma.Effects of types and pH values of running buffer, detection potential,applied voltage and sampling time on separation efficiency were investigated.The optimized conditions were as follows:running buffer:15 mmol/L Na2B4O7 buffer（pH 9.5）,separation voltage:25 kV,detection potential:0.6 V.Under the optimal conditions,a good linearity was obtained between peak area and mass concentration of echinacoside in the range of 0.5-50.0 mg/L with a correlation coefficient of 0.999 4.The detection limit（S/N=3） was 0.1 mg/L and the spiked recoveries ranged from 98% to 102%.The method is simple,rapid and accurate,and can be applied to control the content of echinacoside in Cistanche deserticola Y.C.Ma.