Gastroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of Stephania dielsiana Y. C. Wu extract against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers in Wistar rats

• First scientific evidence of Stephania dielsiana extract's gastroprotective effects in indomethacin-induced ulcer model. • Dual antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms underlie gastroprotection, with significant reductions in MDA, TNF-α, and IL-1β. • Medium dose (0.122 g/kg) showed optimal efficacy with ∼50% reduction in gastric lesions and improved mucosal integrity. • Favorable safety profile with no hepatic or renal toxicity supports potential clinical translation. : Stephania dielsiana Y. C. Wu — known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as Xuè sǎn shǔ (血散薯) — is a climbing vine of the Menispermaceae family distributed across southern China. In TCM, it is classified within the broad fángji (防己) herb category and is widely utilized in various Chinese preparations to treat inflammatory conditions, gastric pain, and gastrointestinal complaints. Despite this established TCM use, systematic scientific evidence for its gastroprotective efficacy remains limited. This study evaluated the gastroprotective effects of a standardized dry extract of S. dielsiana in an indomethacin-induced peptic ulcer model. : Wistar rats were pretreated orally for 7 days with S. dielsiana extract (0.081, 0.122, or 0.162 g/kg) or misoprostol (50 μg/kg). Gastric ulcers were induced with a single oral dose of indomethacin (40 mg/kg). Ulcer severity was assessed using macroscopic and histopathological scoring. Oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH)), proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β)), and hepatic-renal function biochemical markers were analyzed. : Pretreatment with S. dielsiana extract produced a reduction in ulcer index of up to 25% compared to the ulcer control group, though this did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). By contrast, total lesion counts, hemorrhagic spots, and large ulcer incidence were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). Histopathological analysis confirmed improved mucosal integrity, with reduced epithelial erosion, hemorrhage, and inflammatory cell infiltration. The extract markedly decreased gastric levels of MDA, TNF-α, and IL-1β (p < 0.01). No significant adverse changes in kidney function markers; AST levels remained persistently elevated across indomethacin-exposed groups. : S. dielsiana extract demonstrated a trend toward gastroprotection, significantly reducing total lesion count and the incidence of hemorrhagic spots and large ulcers. Histopathological assessment confirmed dose-associated mucosal improvement, and protective mechanisms associated with the modulation of downstream oxidative and inflammatory markers — consistent with the TCM rationale of qīng rè jiě dú (清热解毒) and huó xuè zhǐ tòng (活血止痛) ascribed to Xuè sǎn shǔ in TCM compound decoctions, though specific upstream molecular targets remain to be elucidated. These preliminary findings corroborate the TCM use of S. dielsiana in gastrointestinal compound preparations and warrant further mechanistic studies, dose optimisation, and clinical validation.