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Thunder god vine

Thunder god vine is a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine, and its extracts contain compounds such as triptolide and celastrol that dial down the activity of the immune system. People mostly look at it for rheumatoid arthritis, where human studies found disease activity fell, and the evidence is moderate. That same immune-dampening effect comes with serious side-effect risks, and most other research so far has been lab or animal work.

Sources: PMID 23957087

Best evidence
Grade B
Conditions studied
3
Outcomes
7
Graded outcomes
0115

Evidence by condition

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

3 conditions, plus general outcomes

Arthritis (Multiple Kinds)

Arthritis (Multiple Kinds): outcomes studied for Thunder god vine
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

Multiple human studies demonstrate significant reduction in RA disease activity. A comprehensive review concluded that Lei Gong Teng and its active metabolites show robust anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects in RA patients, with efficacy considered proven but limited by toxicity concerns.

Improves (the measure goes down)Moderate effect2 studies150 people

Studies that measured rheumatoid arthritis symptoms

Autoimmune Disease

Autoimmune Disease: outcomes studied for Thunder god vine
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Immune Function Suppression

A review of clinical and laboratory findings confirmed Lei Gong Teng's potent immunosuppressive properties, with mechanisms including T-cell suppression and NF-κB inhibition. Multiple human studies in autoimmune conditions demonstrate clinically significant immunosuppression, which underlies both therapeutic effects and serious adverse event risk.

Changes; see studiesLarge effect2 studies

Studies that measured immune function suppression

Ankylosing Spondylitis

  • Ankylosing Spondylitis Symptoms: improves
Ankylosing Spondylitis: outcomes studied for Thunder god vine
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Ankylosing Spondylitis Symptoms

A case series of 12 ankylosing spondylitis patients treated with 60 mg/day Tripterygium wilfordii extract for 6 weeks showed meaningful improvements in disease activity measures with no adverse changes in liver function or blood counts.

Improves (the measure goes down)Moderate effect2 studies12 people

Studies that measured ankylosing spondylitis symptoms

General

  • Prostate Cancer Cell Proliferation: changes; see studies
  • Inflammatory Markers (TLR4/NF-κB Pathway): improves
  • Dengue Virus Replication: improves
General: outcomes studied for Thunder god vine
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Prostate Cancer Cell Proliferation

In vitro and animal studies showed triptolide suppressed prostate cancer cell growth by down-regulating SUMO-specific protease 1 (SENP1) expression and reducing androgen receptor and c-Jun expression through multiple inhibitory pathways.

Changes; see studiesModerate effect2 studies

Studies that measured prostate cancer cell proliferation

Inflammatory Markers (TLR4/NF-κB Pathway)

In vitro study demonstrated celastrol reduced LPS-induced expression of TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-12, and IL-1beta in mouse macrophages by blocking lipopolysaccharide binding to the TLR4/MD2 receptor complex via a thiol-dependent mechanism.

Improves (the measure goes down)Moderate effect2 studies

Studies that measured inflammatory markers (tlr4/nf-κb pathway)

Dengue Virus Replication

In vitro and animal studies showed celastrol inhibited all four dengue virus serotypes with EC50 values of 0.12-0.19 μM by upregulating type I interferon and activating the JAK-STAT pathway. In suckling mice, celastrol improved survival and reduced disease severity.

Improves (the measure goes up)Moderate effect2 studies

Studies that measured dengue virus replication

Male Reproductive Function (Toxicity)

In adolescent male rats, both high-dose short-term and low-dose long-term Tripterygium wilfordii exposure significantly reduced testis weight and serum testosterone levels, with suppressed expression of five critical testosterone biosynthesis enzymes (StAR, P450scc, and three hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases) in a concentration- and time-dependent manner.

Improves (the measure goes down)Large effect2 studies

Studies that measured male reproductive function (toxicity)

Key findings

  • Rheumatoid Arthritis SymptomsArthritis (Multiple Kinds)Improves (the measure goes down)
  • Immune Function SuppressionAutoimmune DiseaseChanges; see studies
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis SymptomsAnkylosing SpondylitisImproves (the measure goes down)

Safety notes in the studies

  • A comprehensive review concluded that Lei Gong Teng and its active metabolites show robust anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects in RA patients, with efficacy considered proven but limited by toxicity concerns.
  • Multiple human studies in autoimmune conditions demonstrate clinically significant immunosuppression, which underlies both therapeutic effects and serious adverse event risk.
  • A case series of 12 ankylosing spondylitis patients treated with 60 mg/day Tripterygium wilfordii extract for 6 weeks showed meaningful improvements in disease activity measures with no adverse changes in liver function or blood counts.

Shop the evidence-backed picks

Third-party tested Thunder god vine products, in the forms the graded studies used where we can match them.

  • Grade B

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Studies cited

7 studies from PubMed

  1. A novel SPE-LC-MRM strategy for serum demethylzeylasteral quantitation developed with an 18O-labeled internal standardAnalytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2024 · PMID 37993551
  2. Celastrol inhibits dengue virus replication via up-regulating type I interferon and downstream interferon-stimulated responsesAntiviral Research, 2017 · PMID 27847245
  3. Toxic effects of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F on the reproductive system of adolescent male ratsBiomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 2017 · PMID 28938525
  4. Celastrol blocks binding of lipopolysaccharides to a Toll-like receptor4/myeloid differentiation factor2 complex in a thiol-dependent mannerJournal of Ethnopharmacology, 2015 · PMID 26116162
  5. Traditional immunosuppression--Lei Gong Teng in modern medicineHarefuah, 2013 · PMID 23957087
  6. Triptolide inhibits the proliferation of prostate cancer cells and down-regulates SUMO-specific protease 1 expressionPLoS One, 2012 · PMID 22666381
  7. Report of 12 cases of ankylosing spondylitis patients treated with Tripterygium wilfordiiClinical Rheumatology, 2010 · PMID 20563618