In order to study the pyrolytic properties of Lysimachia foenum-graecum Hance extract, it was pyrolysed and detected by online pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS). The pyrolytic experimental conditions were designed to simulate the real combustion conditions inside a burning cigarette. The sample was heated at 30 ℃/s from 300 to 900 ℃ (held for 5 s) under the flow of 9% oxygen in nitrogen. The pyrolytic components and volatile components were compared. The results showed that 64 pyrolytic components were detected, with 88.27% of the total peak area, including linoleic acid ethyl ester (10.33%), hexadecanoic acid, ethyl ester (9.12%), 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid, (Z,Z,Z)-(8.03%), 2-furancarboxaldehyde, 5-(hydroxymethyl)-(6.02%), neophytadiene (5.12%), heptadecanoic acid, ethyl ester(4.50%), acetic acid, phenyl ester(3.51%), 5-methoxy-2,2-di-methylindan-1-one (2.73%). The number of pyrolytic components was more than that of the volatile components, and 20 components were identified in both pyrolytic components and volatile components, including higher fatty acids and their esters, neophytadiene, 2-furancarboxaldehyde, 5-(hydroxymethyl)-, and 2(5H)-furanone, 3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethyl-. The on-line pyrolysis was similar to the real cigarette combustion conditions. The method is a simple, rapid and good qualitative method for the pyrolysis.