Objective: To observe the protective effect of salidroside pretreatment on rabbit heart after limb ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Methods: A total of 24 New Zealand rabbits were randomly and equally divided into sham operation group, I/R + placebo group （I/R group）and salidroside pretreatment group（salidroside group）. Before establishment of rabbit models of limb I/R, salidroside group received salidroside injection via ear marginal vein, and I/R group received saline injection, once a day for three days. After model establishment, echocardiography was used to evaluate rabbit cardiac function of each group 4h after reperfusion, including left ventricular end-systolic dimension (LVESd), left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDd), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (FS). Blood sample was taken to measure serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Some ventricular tissue homogenates were taken to measure levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malonyl diadehyde (MDA). Then heart sample was taken to receive pathological examination. Results: Compared with I/R group 4h after reperfusion, there were significant decrease in LVESd [(0.69±0.07) mm vs. (0.62±0.05) mm] and significant increase in LVEF [(64.6±3.4) % vs. (72.1±3.6) %], FS [(34.2±3.2) % vs. (41.7±3.4) %] (P<0.05 all), but these indexes of salidroside group were all no significant different than those of sham operation group (P>0.05). Compared with I/R group, there were significant decrease in cTnI [(5.24±0.34) μg/ml vs. (1.06±0.12) μg/ml], MDA [(8.92±2.18) μmol/L vs. (6.79±1.43) μmol/L] and TNF-α [(37.43±10.02) pg/ L vs. (19.73±6.31) pg/ L], and significant increase in SOD level [(16.61±3.75) U/ml vs. (22.26±4.73) U/ml] in salidroside group (P<0.05 all). Pathological results indicated that injury degree in salidroside group was significantly attenuated than that of I/R group. Conclusion: Salidroside pretreatment could protect cardiac function and relieve rabbit cardiac injury after limb ischemia/reperfusion.