Objective:To study the antidepressant effects of Gastrodia elata seeds and provide the basis for development and application. MethodsThe mice were randomly divided into the blank control group, model group, fluoxetine group, Gastrodia elata seeds groups with high-,medium- and low- dose. All drugs were orally given to mice for 28 days. Through the forced swimming test and tail suspension test in mice,the immobility time of swimming and tail suspension within 4min was observed. 24 hours after tail suspension test,each mouse was treated with tail suspension test for 5 minutes and then forced swimming test for 5 minutes,and after 30 minutes the blood were collected and the serum contents of adrenal stimulating hormone releasing hormone (CRH),adrenal cortical hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) were detected.  Results:Compared with the model group,the immobility time of forced swimming and tail suspension in all drug treatment groups were significantly decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01). Compared with the model group,serum CRH,ACTH and CORT contents of mice in the Gastrodia elata seeds groups with different dose were all decreased,the effects in the Gastrodia elata seeds group with high- and medium-dose were significant(P<0.05,P<0.01). The serum hormone levels of mice in the Gastrodia elata seeds group with high-dose were similar to those in the fluoxetine group.  Conclusion: Gastrodia elata seeds has antidepressant effects,its mechanism may be associated with regulating the hormone levels of HPA axis.