Abstract: OBJECTIVE To explore the effects of polysaccharide from Scutellaria barbata D. Don on the contents of lipid in erythrocyte membrane in S₁₈₀ tumor-bearing mice. METHODS Forty-eight female mice were randomly divided into normal control group, model control group, positive control(astragalus polysaccharides) group, and low, middle, high dose(50, 100, 200 mg·kg^-1)group of polysaccharide from Scutellaria barbata D. Don. The mice in other groups except normal control group got subcutaneous tumor. UV spectrophotometer was used to measure the contents of cholesterol and phospholipid in erythrocyte membrane. The percentage composition of phospholipids fatty acid in erythrocyte membrane was measured by GC-MS. RESULTS Compared with the model control group, polysaccharide from Scutellaria barbata D. Don significantly increased the content of phospholipids, and decreased the content and ratio of cholesterol of erythrocyte membrane in S₁₈₀ tumor-bearing mice. Polysaccharide from Scutellaria barbata D. Don improved the rate of palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid and UFA/TFA in different degrees. CONCLUSION Through improving the phospholipids content, decreasing the content of cholesterol and the ratio of unsaturated fatty acid of erythrocyte membrane in S180 tumor-bearing mice, polysaccharide from Scutellaria barbata D. Don may improve the fluidity of the membrane, enhance the immune function of red blood cells, which exerts its antitumor effect.