Nicorandil reduces burn wound progression by enhancing skin blood flow

We assessed whether nicorandil, an adenosine triphosphate-sensitive K+ channel opener, reduces burn wound progression in a rat comb burn model. A total of 24 rats were used. Following thermal injury, one dose of nicorandil (10 or 30 mg/kg) was administered intragastrically twice-daily for 3 days. At days 1 and 3 after injury, skin was harvested for histopathologic examination and protein isolation. Rats treated with the 10 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg doses of nicorandil exhibited significantly increased tissue survival in the zone of stasis at days 1 and 3 after injury.