Clinical applications and progresses of Tripterygium wilfordii extracts in treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F (TW), commonly known as Thunder God Vine, is a perennial woody vine belonging to the Celastraceae family and has long been used as a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It possesses a wide range of pharmacological activities, including potent anti-inflammatory effects, the ability to modulate immune responses by regulating immune cell activity and cytokine secretion, and the capacity to induce apoptosis specifically in abnormal or pathological cells. Clinically, its application is particularly prominent in the treatment of various autoimmune diseases, with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) being one of the key conditions it targets. Previous research studies have sufficiently demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of extracts derived from TW in the management of SLE; however, the inherent toxicity of these extracts has significantly restricted their widespread adoption and long-term use in clinical practice. This article aims to systematically review the underlying pathological mechanisms of SLE and summarize the important clinical advances made over the past five years regarding the application of specific Tripterygium wilfordii extracts—namely tripterygium glycosides (TGs), triptolide (TP), and celastrol (CEL)—in the treatment of SLE.