Objective:To observe effects of pretreatment of extracts of Honghua（Flos Carthami） on ischemia-reperfusion myocardial injury.Methods:Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury was induced by ligation of the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery.The heart was perfused with the extracts of Honghua or verapamil before ischemia untill the end of the experiment.The ischemia-reperfusion group experienced 20-min ischemia and 40-min reperfusion.Malondialdehyde（MDA） content

superoxide dismutase（SOD） and creatine kinase（CK） activities in the rat myocardial tissue were determined

and the heart rate and cardiac function index were observed.Results:The extract could reduce MDA content

SOD and CK activities in the ischemia-reperfusion myocardium

decrease the heart rate

and improve the blood pressure

left ventricular systolic pressure（LVSP）

and the maximum rates of contraction and relaxation（=dp/dtmax）.Conclusion:The extract of Honghua can improve the cardiac function

and the mechanism may be related with clearence of free radicals and inhibition of release of free radicals in the ischemic myocardium.