Anti-ulcerogenic effects of the flavonoid-rich fraction from the extract of Orostachys japonicus in mice

Orostachys japonicus (Crassulaceae) herbal preparations have been used to treat gastric ulcer or gastric cancer disease in Korean folk medicine. To demonstrate the effects of the methanol (MeOH) extract of O.japonicus and its fractions on gastric lesions and pain, the MeOH extract was fractionated into triterpene-rich and flavonoid-rich (FRF) fractions. Second, the fractions were subjected to analgesic assays including hot plate and writhing assays and anti-ulcerogenic assays in HCl/ethanol-induced- and indomethacin/bethanechol-induced ulcer models in mice. In this experiment, it was found that the FRF most significantly reduced ulcerative indices and pain in mice, although the MeOH extract was also effective. Oral administration of the FRF highly reduced the diameter of gastric lesion induced by HCl/ethanol (inhibitory effect, 53%) and by indomethacin/bethanechol (inhibitory effect, 36%) at the 100 mg/kg dose. In addition, oral administration of 200 mg/kg FRF markedly increased the reaction time in the hot plate test by 52% and decreased stretching episodes (45%) in the writhing test. These results suggest that the active component of O.japonicus exhibiting the potent anti-ulcerative and antinociceptive effect is included in the FRF. The anti-ulcerative effects of the MeOH extract and the FRF were also supported by gastric juice and gastric acid volumes and pH in pylorus-ligated mice. Taken together, these results provide evidence-based support for the traditional use of O.japonicus for gastric disease.