IngredientsHylotelephium erythrostictum (Miq.) H. Ohba, commonly known as garden stonecrop, is a herbaceous perennial plant in the genus Hylotelephium, belonging to the family Crassulaceae. The name Sedum erythrostictum Miq. is the widely recognized synonym and remains the name under which the plant is most frequently encountered in dietary supplement, traditional medicine, and older phytochemical literature. Sedum erythrostictum is a synonym of Hylotelephium erythrostictum. Additional synonyms recorded in global botanical databases include Sedum telephium subsp. alboroseum (Baker) Fröd., Sedum erythrostictum var. variegatum Mast., and Sedum labordei H.Lév. & Vaniot. The current accepted taxonomic revision was published by Ohba in 1977 in The Botanical Magazine Tokyo.
H. erythrostictum (Miq.) H. Ohba is commonly known as garden stonecrop. In Chinese traditional medicine contexts, it is also referred to by the common name "景天" (jǐngtiān) within the broader Sedum/Hylotelephium group.
Hylotelephium erythrostictum is a succulent, herbaceous, perennial plant growing from a cluster of carrot-shaped tuberous roots; it produces a cluster of erect, unbranched stems 30–70 cm tall. The stem is simple and the leaves are opposite, sessile, oblong, and succulent, about 5–7 centimetres long. The flat cymes bear many white or pale pink tiny flowers of about 1 centimetre in diameter, with lanceolate petals. The flowering period extends from September through October in the Northern Hemisphere.
It is native to Japan, Korea, Russia, and China. This plant grows in grasslands, meadows, hillsides, and ravines. It prefers fertile well-drained soil, at elevations between 400 metres and 1,700 metres above sea level. The plant is harvested from the wild, and also occasionally cultivated, for medicinal use. It is often grown as an ornamental in gardens.
In its traditional medicinal contexts, S. erythrostictum has been prepared in several forms. The aerial parts (leaves, stems, and flowers) and roots have historically been the parts of choice for therapeutic use. Leaves of some members of this genus are consumed fresh in salads while roots are cooked. For internal use, water decoctions of the whole plant or aerial parts have been the primary preparation in East Asian traditional medicine. For topical applications, the fresh mucilaginous leaf sap or homogenized leaf poultice has been applied directly to skin. In contemporary dietary supplement and cosmetic contexts, the plant is encountered as standardized dry extracts (water, ethanolic, or butanol fractions), powder preparations derived from dried aerial parts, and as a minor ingredient in topical formulations.
Sedum erythrostictum is a perennial herb in the Crassulaceae family which is a traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment of hepatitis, dysentery, herpes zoster, and swellings. According to the Chinese encyclopedia dictionary "Cihai", the whole plant is employed as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of rheumatism and diabetes.
S. lineare Thunb. and S. erythrostictum Miq. are all traditional medicines from genus Sedum. They all have long been used to cure hepatitis, dysentery, swelling poison, and so on. In the TCM polyherbalist tradition, classical formulations combined H. erythrostictum with other plant medicines. For instance, Hylotelephium erythrostictum (Miq.) H. Ohba (30 g), Coptis chinensis Franch. (30 g), Momordica cochinchinensis (Lour.) Spreng. (15 g), and Abelmoschus manihot (Linn.) Medicus (15 g) were used for the treatment of malignant sores.
Sedum erythrostictum, commonly known as "Stonecrop," has a rich history of medicinal use across various cultures, particularly in East Asia. Traditionally, the succulent leaves and aerial parts of this resilient plant have been valued for their ability to promote overall wellness and address a range of ailments. Historical texts from China and Korea document its use as a remedy for inflammation, digestive discomfort, and minor wounds.
The plant's mucilaginous sap, when applied topically, has been employed to soothe burns, cuts, and skin irritations, aiding natural healing and reducing discomfort. It is used traditionally for dermatological purposes in healing burns, pimples, wounds, and as keratolytic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic. This topical use is consistent with broader ethnobotanical practices across related Sedum/Hylotelephium species.
Internally, Sedum erythrostictum has been utilized as a gentle tonic to support liver function, alleviate coughs, and assist with detoxification processes. Its purported anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties have made it a favored ingredient in herbal decoctions for calming gastrointestinal upsets and supporting immune function. In the general context of the Sedum genus, species of the Sedum genus have been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of many ailments including bladder infections, constipation, scurvy disease, jaundice, hepatitis, and epilepsy.
Recent scientific interest has focused on the bioactive compounds present in Sedum erythrostictum, such as flavonoids, polysaccharides, and triterpenoids. More broadly, the family Crassulaceae, to which this species belongs, has been extensively reviewed for phytochemical content; the isolation of 189 compounds of phenolics, flavonoids, sterols, triterpenes, nitrogen-containing compounds and other miscellaneous compounds has been reported across nine genera. Phenolic acids and flavonoids, coumarins, terpenes, and alkaloids have been isolated from Sedum species generally.
A 2020/2021 phytochemical study directly focused on H. erythrostictum isolated and identified eight polyhydroxyl compounds. 2-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydro-4,6-dihydroxy-2-(methoxy)-3-benzofuranone (compound 1), apigenin (2), diosmetin (3), kaempferol (4), kaempferide (5), rhamnocitrin (6), quercetin (7), and gallic acid (8) were isolated from H. erythrostictum. A separate 2021 publication in Chemistry of Natural Compounds by Fang et al. further confirmed the chemical constituents of H. erythrostictum, corroborating these compound classes.
Among these, compound 1 — a 2-methoxybenzofuranone derivative — is particularly noteworthy. This rarely occurring naturally is a 2-methoxybenzofuranone type compound that exhibits a potential inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase (IC50 = 1.8 μM), with a Ki value of 709 nM. The flavonoid aglycones apigenin, diosmetin, kaempferol, kaempferide, rhamnocitrin, and quercetin, together with the phenolic acid gallic acid, represent the primary low-molecular-weight polyphenolic constituents isolated directly from this species.
Survey work across the Hylotelephium genus, which explicitly includes H. erythrostictum, has identified an extensive range of flavonoid glycosides. Five Hylotelephium species, including H. erythrostictum (Miq.) H. Ohba, H. ewersii, H. pallescens, H. telephium subsp. maximum, and H. mingjinianum, have been surveyed for flavonoids. Flavonoids characterized across this genus include kaempferol and quercetin glycosides such as 3-O-sophorosides, 3-O-neohesperidosides, 3,7-di-O-rhamnosides, 3-O-neohesperidoside-7-O-rhamnosides, 3-O-glucoside-7-O-rhamnosides, 3-O-sophoroside-7-O-rhamnosides, 3-O-glucosides and 3-O-rhamnosides.
Beyond small-molecule compounds, polysaccharides of H. erythrostictum (HEPs) have been isolated and characterized. HEPs were isolated via optimized hot-water extraction, Sevage deproteinization, and dialysis. Monosaccharide composition revealed HEPs are heteropolymers (Rha:Ara:Gal:Glc:GulUA ≈ 1.0:1.8:2.1:3.5:3.2), dominated by glucose (≈32 mol%) and unprecedented guluronic acid (GulUA, ≈28 mol%). SEC-MALLS-RI showed weight-average Mw = 37.78 kDa, number-average Mn = 5.20 kDa, indicating a bimodal distribution (≈38 kDa GulUA-rich and ≈5 kDa fractions).
Consistent with other Sedum genus members, H. erythrostictum is expected to contain terpenoids and alkaloids, though these have been less specifically characterized for this particular species compared to closely related species such as S. sarmentosum. In the closely related species S. telephium, the anti-inflammatory activity of crude extracts or fractions, tested in vitro and in vivo models, seems to be mainly related to the polysaccharides present at the leaf level. Other authors have also demonstrated the anti-inflammatory activity of a methanolic extract containing both the polysaccharide and the flavonolic fractions, suggesting the contribution of the flavonol glycosides to the anti-inflammatory activity.
The most mechanistically characterized activity of H. erythrostictum involves inhibition of the intestinal enzyme α-glucosidase. Quan et al. reported a potential α-glucosidase inhibitor from the perennial herb Hylotelephium erythrostictum. The isolated bioactive compound, 2-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydro-4,6-dihydroxy-2-(methoxy)-3-benzofuranone, (IC50 = 1.8 µM) showed 457 times more inhibition than acarbose (IC50 = 822.9 µM) and showed a competitive mode of inhibition toward the α-glucosidase substrate. In silico molecular docking was performed for the investigation of the inhibition mechanism. H. erythrostictum is a potential source of antidiabetic agent. These findings are in vitro and computational; no human or animal efficacy studies have been published for this specific mechanism as of the available literature.
Extracts from the aerial portions of H. erythrostictum were found to have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In the Drosophila intestinal injury model, both water extract (HEWE) and butanol extract (HEBE) eliminated DSS-induced ROS accumulation, alleviated the increases in antimicrobial peptides and intestinal lipid droplets caused by Ecc15 infection, and prevented excessive ISC proliferation and differentiation by inhibiting the JNK, EGFR, and JAK/STAT pathways. This ROS scavenging activity is mechanistically consistent with the flavonoid and polyphenol content (kaempferol, quercetin, gallic acid) identified in the plant.
A 2024 study published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism provided mechanistic insight into how H. erythrostictum extracts protect against intestinal injury. Supplementation with HEWE or HEBE significantly increased adult fly survival and restored ROS levels, acid-base homeostasis, and midgut lipid droplet accumulation induced by DSS or Ecc15. Furthermore, both HEWE and HEBE inhibited ISC proliferation and differentiation by inhibiting the activation of the JNK, EGFR, and JAK/STAT signaling pathways. Additionally, both HEWE and HEBE restored the equilibrium of the disturbed intestinal microflora and preserved intestinal homeostasis. Supplementation with HEWE or HEBE significantly suppressed the JAK/STAT pathway-induced proliferation and differentiation of cells. The numbers of progenitor and mitotic cells drastically decreased, with the progenitor number resembling that in the control group.
Importantly, these mechanistic findings are from an invertebrate (Drosophila) model, not a mammalian or human system, and require verification in higher organism models before their translational relevance can be established.
For the broader Sedum/Hylotelephium genus, hepatoprotective mechanisms have been partially elucidated in closely related species. In S. sarmentosum, for example, the main compound δ-amyrone isolated from the extract was characterized as the effective component with hepatoprotective activity by promoting Nrf2 antioxidant defense and suppressing NF-κB inflammatory response. Whether parallel Nrf2/NF-κB-mediated mechanisms operate specifically in H. erythrostictum has not been directly established in published research.
Evidence level: Preclinical (invertebrate model); no human or mammalian data currently available.
The most detailed mechanistic and functional study specifically on H. erythrostictum examined its effects on intestinal injury using Drosophila melanogaster as a model. Supplementation with HEWE or HEBE significantly increased adult fly survival and restored ROS levels, acid-base homeostasis, and midgut lipid droplet accumulation induced by DSS or Ecc15. Furthermore, both HEWE and HEBE inhibited ISC proliferation and differentiation by inhibiting the activation of the JNK, EGFR, and JAK/STAT signaling pathways. Additionally, both HEWE and HEBE restored the equilibrium of the disturbed intestinal microflora and preserved intestinal homeostasis. Moreover, several effective compounds for treating inflammatory bowel disease were identified in both HEWE and HEBE. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that H. erythrostictum extracts possess a distinct mechanism of protection against intestinal damage and have the potential to serve as a novel, effective treatment for gut inflammation. The bioactive compounds contained in H. erythrostictum extracts have sufficient potential for use as natural therapeutic agents for the treatment of IBD in humans, according to the study authors — though this conclusion requires confirmation in higher-order preclinical and clinical models. The use of Drosophila as a model is a significant limitation for direct extrapolation to human IBD.
Evidence level: In vitro and in silico only; no animal or human clinical data currently available.
Quan et al. reported a potential α-glucosidase inhibitor from Hylotelephium erythrostictum. The isolated bioactive compound 2-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydro-4,6-dihydroxy-2-(methoxy)-3-benzofuranone (IC50 = 1.8 µM) showed 457 times more inhibition than acarbose (IC50 = 822.9 µM) and showed a competitive mode of inhibition toward the α-glucosidase substrate. In silico molecular docking was performed for the investigation of the inhibition mechanism. The traditional use of the plant for diabetes management, as recorded in the "Cihai" encyclopedia, is consistent with this biochemical activity, but the translational significance of the in vitro IC50 value to clinical glycemic control in humans has not been studied.
Evidence level: Traditional use documented; preclinical evidence exists for closely related species; species-specific human data absent.
Sedum erythrostictum is a traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment of hepatitis, dysentery, herpes zoster, and swellings. The Sedum flora has been used in traditional medicine to cure different diseases, including hepatoprotective and anticancer uses. The hepatoprotective activity of flavonoids found in related species (e.g., S. sarmentosum) has been associated with reduction of serum alanine aminotransferase levels; it has been reported that flavonoids contained in S. sarmentosum were one type of active component to protect the liver and reduce serum alanine aminotransferase level. No controlled clinical trials evaluating H. erythrostictum specifically for liver disease have been identified in the peer-reviewed literature.
Evidence level: In vitro and traditional use; no human clinical data.
Hylotelephium erythrostictum (Miq.) H. Ohba is a plant with diverse pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and antirheumatic properties. The antioxidant activity of the plant has been attributed to its polyphenolic constituents, particularly kaempferol, quercetin, and gallic acid, all of which are well-characterized free radical scavengers. Numerous reports both in vitro and in vivo have shown that kaempferol, some glycosides of kaempferol, and several kaempferol-containing plants have antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory activity. Although there is promising evidence from laboratory and animal research, well-designed clinical trials in humans are currently limited. As such, while initial data are encouraging, definitive health benefits and mechanisms of action require further validation.
Evidence level: Preclinical (in vitro); preliminary.
Research flagged as the "first report" on this topic examined the activity of H. erythrostictum polysaccharides (HEPs) against Toxoplasma gondii infection. Beyond the extract, which protects the intestine via ROS scavenging and inhibition of JAK/STAT and JNK pathways, this study examined the anti-parasitic activity of Hylotelephium erythrostictum polysaccharides (HEPs). HEPs were isolated from H. erythrostictum via optimised hot-water extraction, Sevage deproteinization, and dialysis. Monosaccharide composition revealed HEPs are heteropolymers, dominated by glucose (≈32 mol%) and unprecedented guluronic acid (GulUA, ≈28 mol%). The lack of therapeutic selectivity in HEPs, due to their low selectivity index (SI ≈ 0.85), contrasts with their protective potency, indicating that the antiparasitic data must be interpreted with caution. This represents purely preliminary in vitro evidence.
Evidence level: Traditional use; no species-specific controlled clinical evidence.
Traditional topical use for wounds, burns, and skin conditions is extensively documented in East Asian ethnobotany. The genus is used traditionally for dermatological purposes in healing burns, pimples, wounds, and as keratolytic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic. For the closely related S. telephium, use has been confirmed by experiments carried out at the Emergency Unit of the Torre Galli Hospital (Florence, Italy). The leaves without the external cuticle or homogenate fresh leaves were usually applied topically to painful wounds, burns, and eczemas to promote healing and reduce inflammation and pain. Subsequently, studies clarified the constituents of S. telephium and the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. No analogous clinical studies have been published directly for H. erythrostictum.
Evidence level: Traditional use only; no clinical data.
H. erythrostictum has also been used as a traditional Chinese medicine, and according to the Chinese encyclopedia dictionary "Cihai", the whole plant is employed as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of rheumatism and diabetes. No clinical or preclinical studies specifically evaluating the antirheumatic activity of H. erythrostictum have been identified. The antirheumatic attribution appears to rest on traditional use documentation rather than controlled experimental evidence.
There is a notable absence of standardized or clinically validated dosage information for Sedum erythrostictum as a human dietary supplement. The following information reflects only what has been reported in specific published studies:
No published human clinical trials specifying dose, dose range, or dose-response relationships for Sedum erythrostictum as a standalone dietary supplement or phytomedicine have been identified in the peer-reviewed literature. Any dosages appearing in commercial supplement contexts are not supported by clinical evidence.
Formal toxicological studies specifically evaluating Sedum erythrostictum or Hylotelephium erythrostictum in isolation are not well-represented in the peer-reviewed literature. Although there is promising evidence from laboratory and animal research, well-designed clinical trials in humans are currently limited. No published LD50, NOAEL, or subchronic toxicity data specific to this species in mammalian models have been identified in the available sources.
H. erythrostictum 'Mediovariegatum' can be mildly toxic to humans and animals. This note applies specifically to the variegated ornamental cultivar, though the extent and nature of this reported mild toxicity has not been characterized in a peer-reviewed pharmacological study found during this review. Whether toxicity differs between cultivars or between the wild-type and cultivated forms is not established in available sources.
The lack of therapeutic selectivity in H. erythrostictum polysaccharides (HEPs), due to their low selectivity index (SI ≈ 0.85), as reported in the antiparasitic study, is a safety-relevant observation, indicating that the cytotoxic and anti-parasitic concentrations of HEPs may be close to one another. This data point is from in vitro research only and its clinical significance is undetermined.
No published studies evaluating herb-drug interactions, contraindications, or effects in pregnancy and lactation specifically for Sedum erythrostictum have been identified in peer-reviewed sources. The in vitro evidence for α-glucosidase inhibition at potencies exceeding that of acarbose raises a theoretical concern that preparations rich in the identified benzofuranone compound could interact with antidiabetic medications if human pharmacokinetic relevance were established — though this has not been studied.
Although there is promising evidence from laboratory and animal research, well-designed clinical trials in humans are currently limited. As such, while initial data are encouraging, definitive health benefits and mechanisms of action require further validation. The overall body of safety and efficacy data for Sedum erythrostictum as a dietary supplement is at an early preclinical stage. Published evidence consists primarily of in vitro biochemical studies, one invertebrate model study, and extensive traditional use documentation. No human clinical trials, pharmacokinetic studies, or systematic safety evaluations specific to this species in a human population have been published as of the sources accessed.
Health conditions that Sedum erythrostictum may help support.
Body systems that Sedum erythrostictum may help support.
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