Abstract: AIM: To study the effect of canthin-6-one (Can) on myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury. METHODS: The left coronary artery of the rat was ligated. RESULTS: Can (5, 10, 20 mg.kg^-1, ig) was shown to decrease the incidence of arrhythmia induced by ischemia and reperfusion, shorten the duration of ventricular arrhythmia, eliminate the incidence of ventricular fibrillation; increase the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), decrease the malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and alleviate the myocardial ultrastructure injury. CONCLUSION: Can has protective effect on the injury induced by myocardial ischemia and reperfusion.