Shiunko is a traditional botanic formula (
ointment) which is used clinically for the treatment of wounded skin caused by cuts, abrasions, frost or
burn. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of
Shiunko on epithelization of wounded skin. Experimental cutting
wounds on the back skin of Sprague-Dawley rats were induced. Different bacterial inoculations (Pseudomonus aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus) and treatment (
Shiunko,
Povidone-iodine and saline) were arranged herein. The incidences of
infection and the speed of epithelization were evaluated. We observed that the incidences of
wound infection following Pseudomonas aeruginosa inoculation were lower on both the
Shiunko-treated group (0%, p < 0.01) and Povidine-
iodine-treated group (5%, p < 0.05), than the saline-treated group (40%). The
Shiunko-treated group reported higher percentages of complete epithelization not only on the sterilized
wounds (100%) but also on the contaminated
wounds (90%) when compared to the saline-treated group (60% sterilized
wounds, 40% and 50% contaminated
wounds) on day 7 (p < 0.01).
Povidone-iodine did not promote epithelization of wounded skin, whereas
Shiunko did.