Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of asiaticoside on the expressions of transforming growth factor (TGF)- βmR-NA, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPS) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in postburn hypertrophic scars. Methods Nine specimens of postburn (5-8 months) hypertrophic scars with asiaticoside treatment and 9 without asiaticoside treatment were collected for testing the expressions of MMPS, TIMPs, type Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagen and TGF-β mRNA by immuno-histochemistry and in situ hybridization methods, followed by image analysis of the results. Results The expressions of TGF-β mRNA and MMPS /TIMPS were all detected in the fibroblast cytoplasm. The expression of TGF-β1 mRNA in asiatico-side-treated scars was significantly lower than that in scars without asiaticoside treatment (P<0.01). In contrast, the expression of TGF-β3 mRNA was significantly higher in asiaticoside group (P<0.05). The expression of TIMP1 in asiaticoside group was significantly lower than that in non-asiaticoside group (P<0.01), and the expression of type I collagen in asiaticoside-treated scars was lower than that in non-asiaticoside-treated specimens (P<0.05), but the expression of MMP1, MMP2 and TIMP2 and type Ⅲ collagen exhibited no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Asiaticoside can down-regulate TGF-β1 mRNA and TIMP1 expressions and up-regulate TGF-β3 mRNA expression in postburn hypertrophic scars, and is also capable of decomposing the products of type I collagen, contributing to the reduction of hypertrophic scar formation.