To investigate the effect of compound Tong leaf burn oil on the expression of aquaporin-3 in the skin of diabetic foot rats through p38 signaling pathway regulated kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Methods 60 SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, diabetic foot ulcer group, compound tung leaf burn oil group and compound tung leaf burn oil +SB203580 group, with 15 rats in each group. Diabetic foot ulcer model was established in 45 rats in diabetic foot ulcer group, compound tung leaf burn oil group, compound tung leaf burn oil +SB203580 group after intrabitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The study indexes of each group were compared. Results The wound healing rate of group C was significantly higher than that of group B, and the wound healing rate of group D was significantly lower than that of group C (P <0.001). The levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and CRP in group B, group C and group D were significantly higher than those in group A; The levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and CRP in group C were significantly lower than those in group B; The levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and CRP in group D were significantly higher than those in group C (P <0.001). The expression levels of APQ3 and p38 protein in group B and group D were lower than those in group A (P <0.001). The expression of APQ3 in group C was lower than that in group A (P <0.001), while the expression of p38 protein was significantly higher than that in group B. The expression of APQ3 and p38 protein in group D was significantly lower than that in group C (P <0.001). Conclusion Compound Tong leaf burn oil can promote the skin wound healing of diabetic foot and up-regulate the expression of APQ3 in the skin tissue of diabetic foot rats by activating the phosphoryla tion of p38 MAPK signaling pathway.