Rank Species | Genus Tripterygium Higher classification Tripterygium | |
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Similar Tripterygium, Celastraceae, Tripterygium regelii, Aristolochia manshuriensis, Aristolochia fangchi | ||
Tripterygium wilfordii
Tripterygium wilfordii, or léi gōng téng (Mandarin) (Chinese:雷公藤, Japanese: raikōtō), sometimes called thunder god vine but more properly translated thunder duke vine, is a vine used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Contents
- Tripterygium wilfordii
- Health effects
- Birth control
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Side effects
- Pharmacology
- History
- References
Tripterygium wilfordii has been promoted for use in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis; however, due to safety concerns this use is not recommended. Evidence is insufficient to deem it effective as a method of birth control.
Health effects
The United Kingdom government does not recommend the use of Tripterygium due to potential side effects.
Birth control
Evidence is lacking that Tripterygium is either safe or effective as a method of birth control in men. Two trials found less sperm in people taking it for rheumatoid arthritis but these trials were observational in nature.
Rheumatoid arthritis
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health has noted tentative evidence that T. wilfordii may improve some RA symptoms. Serious side effects, however, occur frequently enough to make the risks of taking it higher than the possible benefits.
Side effects
At medicinal doses, T. wilfordii extract can have significant side effects, including immunosuppression.
In August 2011, the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency published a drug safety bulletin advising consumers not to use medicines containing lei gong teng due to potentially serious side effects.
China State Food and Drug Administration issued a warning in April 2012 about this medicine, urging caution.
A 2016 review found gastrointestinal symptoms in 13%, adverse reproductive outcomes in 12%, adverse skin reactions in 8%, hematologic events in 6.5%, cardiovascular events in 5%. Also irregular menstruation OR=4.6.
A 2011 review stated that although T. wilfordii has toxic potential, careful extraction gives an acceptable frequency of adverse reactions, which are largely related to the gastrointestinal tract and amenorrhea. The review found that T. wilfordii extract is useful remedy for postmenopausal rheumatoid arthritis.
Pharmacology
Triptolide, a diterpene triepoxide, is a major active component of extracts derived from Tripterygium wilfordii. Triptolide has pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, immune modulation, antiproliferative, and proapoptotic activity. The herb may also have cartilage protective effects.
History
In China, T. wilfordii has historically been used as a treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.