Objective:To investigate the regulatory effects of saffower yellower on superoxide dismutase（SOD）

malondialdehyed（MDA） and infarction area in acute myocardial ischemic rats.Method: Rats were randomly divided into 5 groups（n=13 each）: the controls and the model group（normal saline

ip）

the positive controls [Danshen injection

3.75 g · kg-1

ip) and Saffower Yellower high dose and low dose groups（80

40 mg ·kg-1 ip）.The treatment lasted for 7 days respectively.On the 8th day

rats were injected with pituitrin（20 U · kg-1

ip） to induce acute myocardial ischemia.Then the SOD activity and MDA concentration in heart tissues and heart infarction areas in rats were detected.Result: In comparison to group

modle saffower yellower 80 mg · kg-1group significantly enhanced SOD activity [（47.57±11.52） vs（25.97±7.73） U ·mg-1

P<0.01];[（41.28±11.97） vs（25.97±7.73） U · mg-1

P<0.05] and suppressed MDA concentration [（0.29±0.08） vs（1.40±0.26） nmol · mg-1

P<0.01];[（0.45±0.15） vs（1.40±0.26） nmol · mg-1

P<0.01] in left ventricle tissues.The infarction areas were decreased in 80 mg · kg-1 saffower yellower group compared to model group [（32.20±2.2）% vs（43.84±6.3）%

P<0.05].Saffower yellower dose dependently reversed these pathological changes significantly.Conclusion: Saffower yellower has protective effect to the pathological impairment in rats with acute myocardial ischemic induced by pituitrin.This is likely related to its anti-oxidation action.