A prospective randomized study was done on 40 patients with superficial burns involving less than 40 per cent of body surfacearea. Patients were divided into two comparable groups. One group was treated with povidone-iodine ointment as the topical antibacterial agent and the other group with human placental extract (Placentrex). Time required for healing and colonization by bacteria in each patient were recorded. It was found that in patients treated with placentrex the wounds healed significantly earlier than those treated with povidone - iodine ointment. Placentrex was found to be more acceptable than the povidone - iodine ointment. Bacterial colonization in both the groups was comparable. Human placental extract (Placentrex) was thus found to be superior to povidone-iodine in local treatment in local treatment of superficial burn wounds.