Shiunko and acetylshikonin promote reepithelialization, angiogenesis, and granulation tissue formation in wounded skin.

Shiunko is a traditional botanic formula (ointment) used clinically for treating wounded skin. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of Shiunko and acetylshikonin, and its active ingredient, with those of gentamicin and silver sulfadiazine ointments, two disinfectants for wound healing. Wounds were cut in the backs of Sprague-Dawley rats. Different bacterial inoculations (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus) and treatments (Shiunko, acetylshikonin, gentamicin, silver sulfadiazine, and vehicle ointments) were used to treat these wounds. We found that rats treated with Shiunko and acetylshikonin on both the sterilized and infected wounds showed higher rates of reepithelialization than those treated with the other ointments (p < 0.05) during a 7-day observation. In the histological study, rats treated with Shiunko and acetylshikonin on both the sterilized and infected wounds showed greater reepithelialization, angiogenesis, and granulation tissue formation than rats treated with the other ointments (p < 0.05) on day 5 after the wounds had been sutured. Differences between rats treated with Shiunko and acetylshikonin ointments were not statistically significant. In conclusion, topically applying Shiunko and acetylshikonin on wounded skin promoted wound healing. Both ointments were effective on sterilized and infected wounds.