The properties of Thunder Duke Vine
Tripterygium wilfordii sometimes called thunder god vine but more properly translated thunder duke vine, is a vine used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Tripterygium wilfordii has been promoted for use in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.
Celastrol, a pentacyclic triterpenoid, and triptolide, a diterpene triepoxide, are putative active components of the extracts derived from Tripterygium wilfordii. Triptolide has pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, immune modulation, antiproliferative, and proapoptotic activity, but its clinical use is limited by severe toxicity.