Determination of Fe, Zn, Cu, K, P, Ca, Mg, Na, B and Al in cistanche and its extractives was carried out by the inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The results showed that (1) the contents of Mn, K, Ca, Mg and Na in cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma were 17.70, 16 278.03, 1 947.25, 1 662.76, and 106.79 respectively (μg·g-1), much higher than in Cistanche tubulosa (Schrenk) Wight; (2) the contents of Fe, Cu and P in 50% methanol extract of Cistanche deserticola were 1.5, 2.4, and 1.1 times that of aqueous extract respectively, the contents of Mn, Zn, K, P, Mg and Na were 3.8, 1.2, 1.6, 2.3, 2.2, and 1.1 times that of methanol extract respectively; (3) the contents of Cu and P in 50% methanol extract of Cistanche tubulosa were 1.6 and 1.2 times that of aqueous extract, the contents of Mn, Zn, K, P, Mg, Na and Al were 2.0, 1.6, 1.6, 1.4, 1.8, 1.2, and 1.2 times that of methanol extract respectively; (4) the leaching rate of 11 mineral elements in Cistanche deserticola and Cistanche tubulosa were 60.79%~83.10% and 44.58%~83.84% in 50% methanol respectively, and the leaching rate of Mn, Zn, K, P, Ca, Na and Al were much higher than in water and 100% methanol extracted. The research provided the basic data of mineral element in comparative study on Cistanche deserticola and Cistanche tubulosa, and provide scientific basis for efficient utilization of mineral element in cistanche.