A method of microwave assisted extraction (MAE ) of gardenia active ingredients with choline/glutamic ionic liquid ([Ch][Glu] IL ) as solvent was developed. Box-Behnken design was used to optimize the MAE conditions for obtaining the high yield of gardenia yellow,chlorogenic acid and gardenia glycoside. The optimum extraction conditions were as follows:[Ch][Glu] IL in water concentration was 1.4%,liquid material ratio was 25.5 mL/g,microwave power was 320 W,microwave processing time was 305 s. Under these conditions,gardenia yellow pigment,chlorogenic acid,yield of geniposide were 49.58,17.23,...