Objective To investigate the effect of baicalin on the expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) in the hippocampus of mice after kainic acid-induced status epilepticus (SE).Methods Ninety male ICR mice were randomly and equally divided into three groups: control, SE, and baicalin treatment groups. A mouse model of SE was established by injection of 0.1 μg/5 μl kainic acid into the lateral ventricle. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes in hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions after SE; the expression of XIAP was measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.Results Baicalin significantly reduced the pathological changes in the hippocampus of mice after SE. In the SE group, the expression of XIAP in hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions increased gradually since 6 hrs after SE, reached the peak level at 12 hrs, and decreased at 24 hrs; the expression of XIAP was significantly higher in the SE group than in the control group at the three time points (P<0.01); compared with the SE group, the baicalin treatment group had significantly higher expression of XIAP in hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions at 6, 12, and 24 hrs (P<0.05).Conclusions Baicalin has a protective effect on the hippocampal neurons in mice after SE, which might be associated with the up-regulated expression of XIAP.