Objective: To screen antidepressant activity of baicalin

baicalein

wogonoside and wogonin

the flavonoids from Scutellaria baicalensis. Method: Male ICR mice were randomly divided into 10 groups:control group

fluoxetine group and baicalin

baicalein

wogonoside and wogonin groups. The treatment groups were received four flavonoids at dose of 10

20 mg·kg-1 and fluoxeine at 20 mg·kg-1 for 7 days respectively. Forced swimming test (FST)

tail suspension test (TST) and open field test (OFT) were applied to evaluate antidepressant activity at 1 hour after the last administration. Result: Compared with control groups

the immobility time of FST mice was significantly shorten from (107.6±28.5) s to (64.4±25.1)

(73.2±30.8)

(69.6±20.4)

(79.7±32.6) s

following treatment at dose of 20 mg·kg-1

with baicalin

baicalein

wogonoside and wogonin. Moreover

the immobility time of TST mice was also significantly shorten from (85.2±27.3) s to (43.1±16.4)

(52.0±21.1)

(48.3±25.9)

(62.2±35.8) s

respectively. Particularly

the effects of baicalin and wogonoside were more obvious. In addition

four flavonoids had no effect on spontaneous locomotor activity in mice. Conclusion: Our results suggest that all of four flavonoids compouds from S. baicalensis exhibit antidepressant activity. Moreover

the roles of baicalin and wogonoside were more visible than baicalein and wogonin

which may be relate to the different metabolic processes of these compouds.