In order to investigate the influence of Danshen on the viability of skin from II degree burned and the effect of Danshen on the wound healing, 20 rabbits having a wound from second degree burn were divided into two groups randomly. The experimental group was treated with Danshen and the control was treated with normal saline. Then succinate dehydrogenase, SDH activity, malonyl dialdehyde, MDA concentration, water content and morphological change of wound tissue were observed dynamically. The results showed that the levels of SDH activity in the experimental group were significantly higher than that of the control group (P lt; 0.05), the MDA concentration and water content of the former were lower than that of the latter (P lt; 0.05) and the morphological examination showed that the wound healing process of former were better than that of the latter. The conclusion was Danshen had a beneficial effect on the viability of the burned skin and this effect was due to its protecting the residual epithelial cells of the burned skin.
