Tripterygium Wilfordii Hook

Over the last 30 years it has been used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, chronic nephritis, chronic hepatitis, thrombocytopenia, ankylosing spondylitis, and skin diseases [3]. One case has been recorded where the drug caused death [11].

Recent research has seems to indicate that it does have a positive effect in combination with certain chemotherapy drugs for treating cancer.

Warning: The raw roots has toxins [1] that require careful processing to remove. You are strongly advised not to experiment with the raw roots yourself.

Publications

1. An experimental pathologic study on acute Triptergium wilfordii poisoning in rats. by Y. G. Zhang Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih 3(6):360-362 (1983).

2. An experimental pathological study of acute Lei Gong Teng (Tripterygium wilfordii Hook) intoxication in rats. by Y. G. Zhang, G. Z. Hunag, H. J. Wang. Z. B. Wu, and S. L. Xing. Acta Acad Med Wuhan 4(2):75-81 (1984)

3. Tripterygium wilfordii, a Chinese herb effective in male fertility regulation". Contraception 1987; 36:335-45.

4. A Prospective, Controlled, Double-Blind, Cross-Over, Study of Tripterygium Wilfodii Hook F in Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis by Tao Xue-Lian, Sun Ying, Dong Yi, Xiao Yu-Lan, Hu Da-Wen, Shi Yan-Ping, Zhu Qing-Lin, Dai Huan, and Zhang Nai-Zheng, which appeared in Chinese Medical Jourmal, 102(5), 327-332, 1989.

5. Triptoquinone A and B, novel interleukin-1 inhibitors from T. wilfordii var. regelii. by Y Takaishi et al., Tetrahedron Lett. vol. 33, pp. 7177-7180 (1992)

6. Inhibition of type II collagen induced arthritis in mice by an immunosuppressive extract of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook f. by W-Z Gu et al, The Journal of Rheumatology, vol 19, pp. 682-688, (1992)

7. Anti-inflammatory oleanane triterpenes from Tripterygium wilfordii cell suspension cultures by fungal elicitation, by Kutney, J.P.; Samija, M.D.; Hewitt, G.M.; Bugante, E.C.; Gu, H. Berlin, W. Ger. : Springer International; 1993. Plant cell reports v. 12 (6): p. 356-359; 1993. Includes references ( Call. No.: QK725.P54)

8. Biotransformations of Tobacco Isoprenoids using Plant Cell Cultures of Tripterygium wilfordii in Acta Chemica Scandinavica, 1993, 47, 683-688

9. Diterpene quinoides from T. wilfordii var. regelii which are interleukin-1 inhibitors by K Shishido et al, Phytochemistry, vol 35, pp 731-737 (1994)

10. Hydroxylation of synthetic diterpenes by Aspergillus and Cunninghamella species: Novel routes to the family of diterpenes isolated from Tripterygium wilfordii. by R. Milanova, M. Moore, and Y. Hirai. 1994. J. Nat. Prod., 57: 882-889.

11. Hypovolemic shock and mortality after ingestion of Tripterygium wilfordii hook F.: a case report. by Chou WC, Wu CC, Yang PC, Lee YT, from Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei. Int J Cardiol 49 (2): 173-177 (Apr 1995)

    Abstract:

    Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TWHF) is a kind of Chinese herbal medicine used for 2000 years. It was applied externally for treatment of arthritis and inflammatory tissue swelling in early years. Recently, this drug has been found to have immunosuppressive effects which could successfully induce remission of some autoimmune disorders without obvious adverse effects. Although there are side effects of gastrointestinal upset, infertility and suppression of lymphocyte proliferation, little information about lethal toxicities has been reported. A case is presented here of a previously healthy young man who developed profuse vomiting and diarrhea, leukopenia, renal failure, profound hypotension and shock after ingestion of an extract of TWHF. In addition to his hypovolemic shock, serial electrocardiograms (ECG), cardiac enzyme studies, and echocardiography also showed some evidence of coexisting cardiac damage. He died of intractable shock 3 days after the abuse of TWHF. Further studies of the pathogenesis of peripheral collapse and possible cardiac toxicity, and determination of the therapeutic range of this drug are necessary before it is used extensively.

12. Oxidation and glucose conjugation of synthetic abietane diterpenes by Cunninghamella spp.: II. Novel routes to the family of diterpenes isolated from Tripterygium wilfordii. by R. Milanova, K. Han, and M. Moore. 1995. J. Nat. Prod., 58: 68-73.

13. Recent Progress in Research on Tripterygium: A Male Antifertility Plant by Qian Shao Zhen, Xu Ye, and Zhang Jian Wei. Contraception, February 1995; 51:117-120.

14. A paper by Peter E. Lipsky (?) in The Journal of Pharmacology and experimental Therapeutics (1305-1312, 1995).

15. The Chinese Herbal Remedy, T2, Inhibits Mitogen-Induced Cytokine Gene Transcription by T Cells, but Not Initial Signal Transduction by Xuelian Tao, Laurie S. Davis, Keisuke Hashimoto and Peter E. Lipsky (from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center), which appeared in The Journal of Pharmacology and experimental Therapeutics January 1996, Vol. 276, No. 1.

16. Pharmacological and Clinical Study on Polyglycoside of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook f. by Jiang Ming appeared in Chin Med J (Taipei) 1996 Vol.57 No.6 (Supplement A). (local copy)

Availablility of this drug

Links

• Herb extract appears to trigger 'suicide' in cancer cells

• Form of Chinese herb found to temper immune system and kill cancer cells

• A search on paper which contain `Tripterygium wilfordii' on Medscape results at least 42 hits. (Registration is free!)

• Patents assigned to UT Southwestern
  • Patent Number 5,500,340: Inhibition of IL-2 production by Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F extract. holders: Peter E. Lipsky, and Xue-Lian Tao. Issue Date: 3/19/96.
  • Patent Number 5,294,443 (3/15/94): Triptergium Wilfordii Hook F Extracts and Components Thereof for Immunosuppression. holders: Peter E. Lipsky, and Xue-Lian Tao.
• It is also known as the Male Infertility Plant (Or here)
  Six male antifertility diterpene epoxides have been isolated from Tripterygium.
  

  Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. (Celastraceae) is a perennial vine growing in southern China. The herb, also called Lei Gong Teng (Thunder God Vine or "three-wing nut"), has been used in Chinese medicine for treatment of fever, edema, and carbuncles for centuries. The powdered roots of the plant were also used as an insecticide.
  

  Over the last 30 years it has been used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, chronic nephritis, chronic hepatitis, thrombocytopenia, ankylosing spondylitis, and skin diseases ("Tripterygium wilfordii, a Chinese herb effective in male fertility regulation" Contraception 1987; 36:335-45).
  

  According to a study by D.Y. Yu in nine rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with Tripterygium for 2 to 56 months, necrospermia or azoospermia occurred.
  

  In experimenting with Wistar rats it was discovered that the seminiferous epithelium was damaged and the serum testosterone levels were decreased when the rats were fed with Tripterygium. In another study rats became infertile after 8 weeks of receiving Tripterygium. Sperm motility decreased sharply and sperm concentration decreased. There was no evidence of toxicity and after 4-5 weeks without the Tripterygium there was full recovery of fertility.
  

  Qian Shao Zhen, Xu Ye, and Zhang Jian Wei observed 26 fertile men being treated with Tripterygium for psoriasis.("Recent Progress in Research on Tripterygium: A Male Antifertility Plant," Contraception, February 1995; 51:117-120). After one month of treatment, the sperm density and motility significantly decreased. After two months of treatment the density and motility decreases further. After one month without the treatment sperm density and motility significantly increased to fertile standards. After another month they were restored to pre-treatment levels. Dr. Zhen et al. concluded that even a small dose of Tripterygium could cause reversible infertility and one of the main sites of action could be the epididymal sperm.
  

  Zhen and associates write that six male antifertility diterpene epoxides have been isolated from Tripterygium. They state "At the ED95 dosage levels, they act mainly on metamorphosing spermatids and testicular and epididymal spermatozoa with exfoliation and inhibition of basic nuclear protein turnover of late spermatids, delayed spermiation and sperm head-tail separation and microtubule, microfilament and membrane damages. A preliminary toxic evaluation indicated that these compounds were immunosuppressive at dose levels 5-12 times their antifertility doses. Immunosuppression is an important weakness for an antifertility agent, but if the immunosuppressive dose of a drug is much higher than its antifertility dose, it could yet be regarded as a safe contraceptive.
  

  The corresponding author of this study is Qian Shao Zhen, M.D., Drum Tower, 19-402 Fifth Lane, Nanjing 210009, P.R. China.
  

• Congress on New Perspectives of Andrology in Human Reproduction reports: A. Aribarg (Thailand) discussed the Thai experience with a number of good leads for male contraceptive agents. He discussed the potential of the Chinese celery plant, purified Tripterygium wilfordii and other plant products. He described his research on the use of testosterone as a male contraceptive, with concern about rebound of sperm counts, possible effects on liver function and acne. The discussion emphasized the rarity of rebound of sperm counts and the belief that testosterone esters do not induce liver dysfunction.
• Ninth International AIDS Conference mentiones that it is being researched as a drug against AIDS.

• New arthritis drug may stop disease's progression about the Tenidap drug.

• Mayway: Seem to sell Lei Gong Teng.

Responses to this page

Michael McCulloch replied to a news posting, in which I asking for more information, with:

The herb has considerable mention in the Chinese literature. There are two problems: (1) it's very difficult to find here in the US, and (2) the raw material has toxins that require careful processing to remove.

Otherwise, there is good clinical evidence as to its effectiveness.

Without a reliable commercial source in the US, we are reluctant at our clinic to commit to it.

Michel Czehatowski from East Earth Trade Winds wrote to me:

I get quite a few people calling at my company looking for this herb. I always tell them that it is very toxic and should not be used unless under a physicians supervision. There's a lot of other herbs out there that can do similar things but aren't as dangerous.