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. Tripterygium has anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activity. Tripterygium contains Triptolide and tripdiolide and numerous other compounds.
    Most of the pharmacological activity of tripterygium extract are due to triptolide, its most abundant and active component, with some contribution from tripdiolide. For more tripterygium research.

Potential clinical uses
Rheumatoid arthritis info
Lupus info
Leiomyomas (uterine fibroids). For more information on fibroids.
Autoimmune diseases may be helped

Tripterigium side effects
Tripterygium has anti-fertility effect in male rats and in men after oral administration at dose levels not showing apparent toxicity or side effects. Fertility appears to be reversible after cessation of treatment.
Tripterygium therapy may cause amenorrhea in women
Long-term administration of Tripterygium could decrease bone mineral density levels in women.

Herbal extract may help rheumatoid arthritis
Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, known also by the Chinese translation for "thunder god vine." Chinese medicine practitioners use extracts from the vine to treat arthritis and other disorders of the immune system. Dr. Xuelian Tao of the National Institutes of Health and colleagues report that patients who took capsules of different doses of Tripterygium were more likely to experience a reduction in their symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis than those given pills containing inactive ingredients. In the current study, published in the July issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, Tao and colleagues compared the effects of an extract of Tripterygium to an inactive drug, or placebo, in 35 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Patients were given placebo, a low dose of Tripterygium (180 milligrams) or a high dose of the extract (360 milligrams) each day for 20 weeks. Fourteen of the original patients withdrew from the study before the end of the 20 weeks, citing various reasons, the authors note. One patient dropped out of each of the three treatment groups due to side effects. Of the patients who completed the trial, 8 who were given the high dose of the treatment, and 4 given the low dose, experienced at least a 20% improvement in their symptoms. None of the patients given a placebo drug experienced a similar improvement, Tao and colleagues note. Six patients taking the low dose of Tripterygium and 5 of those taking the high dose reported side effects as a result of the treatment, the authors add, which included hair loss, heartburn, and, most commonly, diarrhea. Based on the findings, Tao and colleagues suggest that Tripterygium may alleviate the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis by both suppressing immune system activity and reducing inflammation. Arthritis & Rheumatism 2002;46:1735-1743.

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tripterygium side effects and benefits