Abstract: Shikonin is one of the active components isolated from the root of Arnebia euchrona (Royle) Johnst. Shikonin has been shown to possess significant anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities and has been used clinically in phlebitis and vascular purpura with fairly good results. In the present work, the absorption, distribution and excretion of shikonin was studied in mice using tritium labeled compound.The plasma concentration-time curve obtained after intravenous injection of ³H-shikonin (77 μCi/kg) to mice was shown to fit a three compartments open model with the following pharmacokinetic parameters:P=693690 dpm/ml A=110563 dpm/ml B=11750 dpm/mlp=42.3/h α=1. 29/h β=0.0727/hT1/2p= 0.0151h T1/2α=0.496h T1/2β=8.79hK12=29.2/h K21=7.36/h K13=3.81/hK31=0.174/h Kel=3.09/hAUC=263770 dpm/L.h Vc=2.09 L/kgVd=8.9 L/kg CL=0.646 L/kg/hThe drug concentration was found to be high in bile anti liver, moderate in lung, spleen, kidney, heart and skin and low in testis, muscle and brain.The absorption of ³H-shikonin (77 μCi/kg) was rapid after oral or intramuscular administration. In both cases, radioactivity could be detected from the plasma about 1 min after administration and reached peak levels at 5.78 min and 7.62 min, respectively. The bioavailability was 34.3% for the former route and 64.7% for the latter.Within 96 h following ⅳ injection, the total radioactivity excreted in urine and feces was 40.5% and 40.3% of dose, respectively, of which only 3.6% and 7.7% were unchanged drug.