Tripterygium Wilfordii HOOK.F. (TwHF)

Toxic, immunosuppressive medicinal plant from China, see also under three-winged fruit. Tripterygium Wilfordii HOOK.F. (TwHF) is the only plant mentioned in the AMWF guidelines for rheumatoid polyarthritis.

Studies prove its efficacy in autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis, where it is even more effective than methotrexate (Zhang W et al. 2015). The toxicity of the drug is problematic.

In China, too, only a 50 % ethanol extract of the root is approved as Kunming-Shanhaitang tablets for lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis (Wiebrecht A et al. 2021).

Gastrointestinal symptoms, reproductive disorders, amennorrhea, increase in liver values, skin reactions, hematological changes, leukopenia, proteinuria, palpitations, headaches, increased blood sugar and hair loss.

1. Zhang W et al. (2015) Comparison of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F with methotrexate in the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis (TRIFRA): a randomized, controlled clinical trial. Ann Rheum Dis. 74:1078-86. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204807. Epub 2014 Apr 14. PMID: 24733191
2. Wiebrecht A et al. (2021) Journal of Phytotherapy 42: 213-214 DOI: 10.1055/a-1406-4868
3. Han R et al. (2012) Triptolide in the treatment of psoriasis and other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Br J Clin Pharmacol 74:424-36. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2012.04221.x. PMID: 22348323; PMCID: PMC3477344.
4. Wang Y et al. (2023) Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F. and Its Extracts for Psoriasis: Efficacy and Mechanism. Drug Des Devel Ther. 20:3767-3781. doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S439534. PMID: 38144417; PMCID: PMC10749103.
5. Ru Y et al. (2020) Role of keratinocytes and immune cells in the anti-inflammatory effects of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. in a murine model of psoriasis. Phytomedicine. 77:153299. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2020.153299. Epub 2020 Aug 13. PMID: 32823074.