- Thundergod vine (Tripterygium wilfordii) has a long history of use. It has reportedly been used continuously in China for more than 2,000 years. Traditionally, thundergod vine has been used as an anticancer drug, male contraceptive, a drug used to suppress the immune system, and as an anti-inflammatory agent.
- Various clinical trials have indicated the use of thundergod vine as a possible treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, a disease of the immune system). There is also evidence suggesting possible benefits of thundergod vine in organ transplantation, asthma, cancer, and kidney, skin, and eye disorders.
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Thundergodvine
Contents
- Canter PH, Lee HS, Ernst E. A systematic review of randomised clinical trials of Tripterygium wilfordii for rheumatoid arthritis. Phytomedicine 2006;13(5):371-377. View Abstract
- Carter BZ, Mak DH, Schober WD, et al. Triptolide induces caspase-dependent cell death mediated via the mitochondrial pathway in leukemic cells. Blood 2006;108(2):630-637. View Abstract
- Chang HJ, Kim MH, Baek MK, et al. Triptolide inhibits tumor promoter-induced uPAR expression via blocking NF-kappaB signaling in human gastric AGS cells. Anticancer Res 2007;27(5A):3411-7. View Abstract
- Huang HH, Yen DH, Wu ML, et al. Acute Erycibe henryi Prain ("Ting Kung Teng") poisoning. Clin.Toxicol (Phila) 2006;44(1):71-75. View Abstract
- Ji SM, Wang QW, Chen JS, et al. Clinical trial of Tripterygium Wilfordii Hook F. in human kidney transplantation in China. Transplant Proc 2006;38(5):1274-1279. View Abstract
- Kusunoki N, Yamazaki R, Kitasato H, et al. Triptolide, an active compound identified in a traditional Chinese herb, induces apoptosis of rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts. BMC Pharmacol 2004;4:2. View Abstract
- Panichakul T, Intachote P, Wongkajorsilp A, et al. Triptolide sensitizes resistant cholangiocarcinoma cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Anticancer Res 2006;26(1A):259-265. View Abstract
- Setty AR, Sigal LH. Herbal medications commonly used in the practice of rheumatology: mechanisms of action, efficacy, and side effects. Semin Arthritis Rheum 2005;34(6):773-784. View Abstract
- Wang J, Wang YT, Shao JQ, et al. Immunosuppressive therapies in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy. Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi 2004;43(2):125-127. View Abstract
- Wang X, Matta R, Shen G, et al. Mechanism of triptolide-induced apoptosis: Effect on caspase activation and Bid cleavage and essentiality of the hydroxyl group of triptolide. J Mol Med 2006;84(5):405-415. View Abstract
- Yan SX, Wang Y. Inhibitory effects of Triptolide on interferon-gamma-induced human leucocyte antigen-DR, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, CD40 expression on retro-ocular fibroblasts derived from patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy. Clin Experiment Ophthalmol 2006;34(3):265-271. View Abstract
- Yang H, Chen D, Cui QC, et al. Celastrol, a triterpene extracted from the Chinese "Thunder of God Vine," is a potent proteasome inhibitor and suppresses human prostate cancer growth in nude mice. Cancer Res 2006;66(9):4758-4765. View Abstract
- Yang JH, Luo SD, Wang YS, et al. Triterpenes from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. J Asian Nat Prod Res 2006;8(5):425-429. View Abstract
- Zhang DH, Marconi A, Xu LM, et al. Tripterine inhibits the expression of adhesion molecules in activated endothelial cells. J Leukoc Biol 2006;80(2):309-319. View Abstract
- Zhou X, Zhou Z, Jin M, et al. Clinical study of qingluo tongbi granules in treating 63 patients with rheumatoid arthritis of the type of yin-deficiency and heat in collaterals. J Tradit Chin Med 2004;24(2):83-87. View Abstract
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