Antiulcer activities of the hydroethanolic extract of Sedum dendroideum Moc et Sessé ex DC. (balsam)

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance The leaves of Sedum dendroideum , commonly known as balsam, have long been employed for the treatment of gastric ulcers. The aim of study was to evaluate the antiulcer activity and toxicological properties of Sedum dendroideum using induced gastric ulcer models in Wistar rats. Materials and methods The hydroethanolic extract of Sedum dendroideum (ESD) was analyzed using an acute ulcer model using ethanol and indomethacin and a chronic ulcer model using acetic acid. The toxicity was evaluated with acute and subacute toxicity tests. The gastric secretion was assessed by the performance of pyloric ligation and the gastric volume, pH, and hydrogen ion concentration. The mechanism of the gastroprotective activity of ESD through the involvement of nitric oxide and sulfhydryl compounds was assessed. Moreover, a phytochemical screening and antioxidant assays were performed. Results No signs of toxicity were observed. In the ethanol-induced ulceration model, ESD doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg significantly reduced the gastric lesions by 66.03%, 71.11%, and 70.82%, respectively. In the indomethacin-induced ulceration model, ESD doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg significantly reduced the gastric lesions by 89.88%, 94.36%, and 90.64%, respectively. Treatment with ESD at 50 mg/kg and cimetidine at 200 mg/kg significantly reduced acetic acid-induced ulcerations and resulted in 92.99% and 77.16% cure, respectively. ESD doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg inhibited oxidation by 79.7%, 82.4%, and 82.3%, respectively. The antiulcer activity of ESD may involve sulfhydryl compounds, considering that this activity was inhibited in the animals treated with sulfhydryl compound blockers. Furthermore, ESD increased mucus secretion and reduced gastric acidity and volume. Conclusions The leaf extract of Sedum dendroideum exhibited gastroprotective activity, potentially due to sulfhydryl compounds and antioxidant activity. Therefore, other studies are warranted to elucidate the antiulcer properties of these compounds.