Shiunko promotes epithelization of wounded skin

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.