Objective To study possible mechanism of Shixiang Paste（石香膏） in treating diabetic chronic refractory wounds. Methods Fifty SD rats were divided into normal group

wound control group

refractory group

rb-bFGF group and Shixiang Paste group

with 5 rats in each group and each time point（7 d and 14 d）. Except for the normal group and the wound control group

rats were given intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin solution to prepare diabetic rat models. After modeling

full-thickness skin marked with a circular area was cut with surgical instruments until the muscular fascia was exposed

forming a rat model of full-thickness skin defect wound; skin defect wound models were also established in the wound control group. After successful modeling

the wounds in the Shixiang Paste group were applied Shixiang Paste with a height of 2 mm. The wounds in the rb-bFGF group were treated with 0. 2 ml rb-bFGF externally. It is ensured that the drugs completely covered the wounds. The wound control group and the refractory group were not givens drugs to cover the wounds

and the normal group was not treated. On the 7 th and 14 th day after modeling

wound tissue growth was observed

expressions of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1（VCAM-1）

nuclear factor κB p65（NF-κB p65） and p-nuclear factor κB p65（p-NF-κB p65） in the wounds were detected by Western Blot

and expression levels of VCAM-1 mRNA were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR.Results On the 14 th day after modeling

no obvious repair was seen in the refractory group

and the number of fibroblasts was small. The wounds in the Shixiang Paste group had been repaired. On the 7 th day after modeling

the expression of VCAM-1 in the Shixiang Paste group was lower than that in the refractory group

and the expressions of NF-κB p65

p-NF-κB p65 and VCAM-1 mRNA in the rb-bFGF group and the Shixiang Paste group were lower than those in the refractory group（P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01）. Compared with the rb-bFGF group

the relative expression of VCAM-1 mRNA in the Shixiang Paste group was decreased（P < 0. 01）. On the 14 th day after modeling

compared with the refractory group

the relative expressions of VCAM-1

NF-κB p65

p-NF-κB p65 and VCAM-1 mRNA in the rb-bFGF group and the Shixiang Paste group were decreased（P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01）. Compared with the rb-bFGF group

the relative expressions of VCAM-1

NF-κB p65 and VCAM-1 mRNA in the Shixiang Paste group were decreased（P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01）. Conclusion Shixiang Paste could promote repaire of diabetic refractory wound

inhibiting expressions of VCAM-1

NF-κB p65

p-NF-κB p65 and VCAM-1 mRNA in wounds might be one of the mechanisms.