Introduction
Tripterygium wilfordii is a vine that grows in East Asia. The root has been used to improve liver function and ease pain and swelling in the body. Tripterygium wilfordii can be taken as a pill. It can also be applied as a cream or gel.
Dosages
60 milligrams 2 to 3 times daily
What Research Shows
Likely Effective
- Diabetic kidney disease—likely to improve kidney function when used with standard treatment C1- C4
- Hives—likely to improve symptoms when used with standard treatment D1
- Primary nephrotic syndrome—likely to improve total and complete remission rate G1
- Rheumatoid arthritis—likely to ease soreness and pain when used with standard treatment I1- I8
May Be Effective
- Crohn Disease —may help prolong remission B1-B3
- IgA Nephropathy—may bring about remission E1
Not Enough Data to Assess
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Safety Notes
It may be safe to use Tripterygium wilfordii on the skin and to take it orally in small doses for a short time. It is unsafe to take during pregnancy. Not enough studies have been done to say whether it is safe to use for a long period. It is also not known whether it is safe to take by women who are breastfeeding. J1-J5
Interactions
Talk to your doctor about any supplements or therapy you would like to use. Some can interfere with treatment or make conditions worse.
References
REFA Chronic Kidney Disease
REFA1 Zhu B, Wang Y, et al. Tripterygium preparations for the treatment of CKD: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Kidney Dis. 2013;62(3):515-530.
REFA2 Wang D, Zhao XH, et al. Efficacy and safety of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F for CKD in Mainland China: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Phytother Res. 2018 Mar;32(3):436-451.
REFB Crohn Disease
REFB1 Ren J, Wu X, et al. Prevention of postoperative recurrence of Crohn's disease: Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycoside versus mesalazine. J Int Med Res. 2013 Feb;41(1):176-187.
REFB2 Zhu W, Li Y, et al. Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. versus azathioprine for prevention of postoperative recurrence in patients with Crohn's disease: a randomized clinical trial. Dig Liver Dis. 2015 Jan;47(1):14-9.
REFB3 Sun J, Shen X, et al. Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F as maintenance treatment for Crohn’s disease. Am J Med Sci. 2015;350(5):345-351.
REFC Diabetic Kidney Disease
REFC1 Ge Y, Xie H, et al. Treatment of diabetic nephropathy with Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F extract: a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial. J Transl Med. 2013 May 31;11:134.
REFC2 Huang J, Zhang JQ, et al. [Systematic evaluation for the efficacy of tripterygium glycosides in treating diabetic nephropathy stave IV]. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2015;40(15):3100-3109.
REFC3 Yan W, Zhou B, et al. Antioxidant and antithrombotic therapies for diabetic kidney disease. Iran J Kidney Dis. 2015;9(6):413-420.
REFC4 Ren D, Zuo C, et al. Clinical efficacy and safety of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook in the treatment of diabetic kidney disease stage IV: A Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Medicince (Baltimore). 2019;98(11):e14604.
REFD Hives
REFD1 Liu L, Zhao H, et al. Efficacy and safety of Tripterygium wilfordii hook F for chronic urticaria: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018;18(1):243.
REFE IgA Nephropathy
REFE1 Chen YZ, Gao Q, et al. Meta-analysis of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F in the immunosuppressive treatment of IgA nephropathy. Intern Med. 2010;49(19):2049-2055.
REFF Inflammatory Bowel Disease
REFF1 Ng SC, Lam YT, et al. Systematic review: the efficacy of herbal therapy in inflammatory bowel disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2013 Oct;38(8):854-863.
REFG Primary Nephrotic Syndrome
REFG1 Wang XB, Dai EL, et al. A PRISMA-compliant systematic review and network meta-analysis on the efficacy between different regimens based on Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F in patients with primary nephrotic syndrome. Medicine (Baltimore). 2018 Jul;97(27):e11282.
REFH Psoriasis
REFH1 Wu C, Jin HZ, et al. Efficacy and safety of Tripterygium wilfordii hook F versus acitretin in moderate to severe psoriasis vulgaris: a randomized clinical trial. Chin Med J (Engl). 2015 Feb 20;128(4):443-449.
REFI Rheumatoid Arthritis
REFI1 Goldbach-Mansky R, Wilson M, et al. Comparison of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F versus sulfasalazine in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2009 Aug 18;151(4):229-40, W49-51.
REFI2 Jiao J, Jiang Q. [External application of compound Tripterygium wilfordii decreased the activity of rheumatoid arthritis]. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2012;32(11):1470-1472.
REFI3 Jiang M, Zha Q, et al. Predicting and verifying outcome of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. based therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: from open to double-blinded randomized trial. Sci Rep. 2015;5:9700.
REFI4 Lv QW, Zhang W, et al. Comparison of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F with methotrexate in the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis (TRIFRA): a randomised, controlled clinical trial. Ann Rheum Dis. 2015 Jun;74(6):1078-1086.
REFI5 Jiao J, Tang XP, et al. [Effect of external applying compound tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. on joint pain of rheumatoid arthritis patients]. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2016;36(1):29-34.
REFI6 Wang HL, Jiang Q, et al. Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F versus conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs as monotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2016;16:215.
REFI7 Wang X, Zu Y, et al. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with combination of methotrexate and Tripterygium wilfordii: A meta-analysis. Life Sci. 2017;171:45-50.
REFI8 Zhou YZ, Zhao LD, et al. Comparison of the impact of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F and Methotrexate treatment on radiological progression in active rheumatoid arthritis: 2-year follow up of a randomized, non-blinded, controlled study. Arthritis Res Ther. 2018 Apr 10;20(1):70.
REFJ Safety
REFJ1 Cameron M, Gagnier JJ, et al. Herbal therapy for treating rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Feb 16;(2):CD002948.
REFJ2 Takei A, Nagashima G, et al. Meningoencephalocele associated with Tripterygium wilfordii treatment. Pediatr Neurosurg. 1997 Jul;27(1):45-48.
REFJ3 Brown AC. Kidney toxicity related to herbs and dietary supplements: Online table of case reports. Part 3 of 5 series. Food Chem Toxicol. 2017 Sep;107(Pt A):502-519.
REFJ4 Brown AC. Heart Toxicity Related to Herbs and Dietary Supplements: Online Table of Case Reports. Part 4 of 5. J Diet Suppl. 2018 Jul 4;15(4):516-555.
REFJ5 Feng X, Fang SN, et al. Nephrotoxicity of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f Preparations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Altern Complement Med. 2019 Jan;25(1):16-31.