Abstract: Objectives To study the effects of traditional Chinese herbs,Wen Yang Huo Xue Decoction (herbs of removing blood-stasis and warming the kidney-yang) and Salvia miltiorrhiza,on the animal model of sclerotic skin.Methods A mouse model for sclerotic skin was established in C3H/He mice by repeated local injections of bleomycin for 3 weeks.Wen Yang Huo Xue Decoction was given orally,and Salvia miltiorrhiza orally or intravenously,to the mouse model.The administrations started either simultaneously or after 3 weeks' injections of bleomycin.Mouse skins and lungs were examined histopathogically,and sera were tested for autoantibodies.Results The administrations of herbs,started either at the beginning or at the time sclerosis was induced,caused no significant alleviation of dermal sclerosis by the end of 5 weeks'treatment.After 8 weeks'administrations of herbs,the dermal thickness reduced and collagen histochemical index decreased significantly,especially in group Wen Yang Huo Xue Decoction was given orally and in group Salvia miltiorrhiza was given intravenously at early stage (P<0.05).Both groups showed no significant improvement on lung flbrosis and serum autoantibodies.Conclusions Significant reduction of dermal sclerosis could be observed by orally taken Wen Yang Huo Xue Decoction and intravenously injected Salvia miltiorrhiza at the early stage and over a long time,but no significant improvement on lung flbrosis or serum antibodies was observed in mouse model of sclerotic skin.

Key words: Scleroderma,systemic, Drugs,Chinese herbal, Models,animal, Bleomycin