Objective To study the effects of baicalin on the expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the hippocampus of kainate-induced epileptic mice.Methods Fifty-four ICR male mice were randomly divided into three groups: control, status epilepticus (SE) and baicalin groups.To establish animal model of status epilepticus, 0.1 μg/5 μl kainic acids was injected into the intracerebroventricular of the mice.HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes in hippocampus CA1 and CA3 areas.Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot were used to detect the expression of the mRNA and protein levels of IL-1β and TNF-α, respectively.Results Baicalin significantly relieved the hippocampal injury after SE in mice, and decreased the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α (P<0.05).Conclusions Baicalin may derease the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α and thus provides a neuroprotective effect on the hippocampus after SE in mice.