Family — Crassulaceae
A perennial herbaceous plant reaching a height of 40–80 cm, with a thickened fusiform root. The leaves are succulent, fleshy, and opposite (distinguished from Sedum purpureum (L.) Schult., which has alternate leaves), elongated elliptical (while the related species Sedum telephium L. has rounded or oval leaves), stem-clasping, 5–13 cm long. The inflorescence is dense, corymbose, 6–10 cm wide. The flowers are small with a whitish-pink speckled corolla, 5 sepals, 5 petals, and 10 stamens, almost equal in length to the corolla. The fruit is a complex leaflet. It fruits from July to October.
It grows in the central and western regions of the European part of Russia, in broad-leaved forests.
The plant’s classification as a succulent prompted research into its potential use as a biogenic stimulant, similar to aloe. This research was conducted at the Zaporizhzhya Medical Institute.
The juice of S. maximum contains citric, oxalic, and malic acids, as well as traces of alkaloids. When the leaves were stimulated using Filatov’s method (leaves were kept in the dark at +5°C for 2 weeks), the amount of citric and oxalic acids doubled.
The preparation «Biosed,» a water extract of S. maximum prepared similarly to biogenic aloe preparations, has been approved for use. It is indicated for stimulating metabolic processes, similar to aloe-based products. Biosed is available in ampoules of 1–2 ml for subcutaneous or intramuscular injection (maximum daily dose 3–4 ml); the course of treatment is 20–30 injections. The drug is contraindicated in cases of peptic ulcer disease.
Other succulent species of the Crassulaceae family, such as Sedum album L. (white stonecrop), Sedum telephium L. (orpine), and Sempervivum ruthenicum (Koch.) Schmit et Lehm. (Russian houseleek), are also being tested for biogenic stimulants.