Thunder god vine

Thundergod vine/Drug Interactions:

  • AntihypertensivesAntihypertensives: Tripterygium wilfordii has reportedly caused an increase in diastolic blood pressure (8). The effects of Tripterygium wilfordii with antihypertensive agents are not well understood.
  • Anti-inflammatory agentsAnti-inflammatory agents: In vitro studies suggest that constituents of thundergod may exert anti-inflammatory effects (85; 86; 87; 55; 59; 60; 88; 89; 90; 91; 92; 93). However, their effects with anti-inflammatory agents are not well understood.
  • Antineoplastic agentsAntineoplastic agents: In vitro, several compounds in Tripterygium wilfordii have exhibited anticancer activity against a variety of tumors, including bladder (94), breast (80; 29; 94), gastric (94), lung (43; 44), prostate (47; 31), and stomach cancer (29), as well as cervical adenocarcinoma (95), chloangiosarcoma (96), glioma (30), leukemia (29; 42; 79), melanoma (94), and pancreatic carcinoma (95). Triptolide has been shown in vitro to have potent but nonspecific cytotoxicity and antitumor activity (94; 80) and antiproliferative activity (97; 98). In vitro, triptolide was reported to induce accumulation of cells in S phase and block doxorubicin-mediated accumulation of cells in G(2)/M phase and induction of p21 (99).
  • Antiviral agentsAntiviral agents: Constituents of thundergod vine have been shown to have antiviral activity, particularly against several enveloped viruses, including herpes simplex-1 virus, human cytomegalovirus, measles virus, influenza A, and HIV (26; 27; 100; 41). The effects of thundergod vine and antiviral agents are not well understood.
  • Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs): Based on review study, Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.f. was reported to interact synergistically with DMARDs, such as FK506, cyclosporine, and possibly chloroquine (28).
  • Hormonal agentsHormonal agents: In human research, use of Tripterygium wilfordii was reported to stimulate increases in luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones (19; 76), and decrease estradiol, progesterone, and E2 levels (19; 76). The effects of thundergod vine and hormonal agents are not well understood.
  • ImmunosuppressantsImmunosuppressants: Based on in vitro study, certain compounds in thundergod vine may have both immunosuppressant and immunostimulating activity (55; 56; 57; 58; 59; 60; 61; 62; 63; 64; 65; 66; 67; 66; 68; 69; 70; 71; 72; 73; 74; 75). The effects of thundergod vine and immunosuppressants are not well understood.
  • Nephrotoxic agentsNephrotoxic agents: In humans, use of Tripterygium wilfordii has been reported to induce kidney damage in a limited number of cases (15). Theoretically, concurrent use of Tripterygium wilfordii and nephrotoxic agents may increase the risk of kidney damage.

    • Thundergod vine/Herb/Supplement Interactions:

  • Anti-inflammatory herbs and supplementsAnti-inflammatory herbs and supplements: In vitro studies suggest that constituents of thundergod may exert anti-inflammatory effects (85; 86; 87; 55; 59; 60; 88; 89; 90; 91; 92; 93). However, their effects with anti-inflammatory agents are not well understood.
  • AntineoplasticsAntineoplastics: In vitro, several compounds in Tripterygium wilfordii have exhibited anticancer activity against a variety of tumors, including bladder (94), breast (80; 29; 94), gastric (94), lung (43; 44), prostate (47; 31), and stomach cancer (29), as well as cervical adenocarcinoma (95), chloangiosarcoma (96), glioma (30), leukemia (29; 42; 79), melanoma (94), and pancreatic carcinoma (95). Triptolide has been shown in vitro to have potent but nonspecific cytotoxicity and antitumor activity (94; 80) and antiproliferative activity (97; 98). In vitro, triptolide is reported to induce accumulation of cells in S phase and block doxorubicin-mediated accumulation of cells in G(2)/M phase and induction of p21 (99).
  • AntiviralsAntivirals: Constituents of thundergod vine have been shown to have antiviral activity, particularly against several enveloped viruses, including herpes simplex-1 virus, human cytomegalovirus, measles virus, influenza A, and HIV (26; 27; 100; 41). The effects of thundergod vine and antiviral agents are not well understood.
  • Hormonal herbs and supplementsHormonal herbs and supplements: In human research, use of Tripterygium wilfordii was reported to stimulate increases in luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones (19; 76), and decrease estradiol, progesterone, and E2 levels (19; 76). The effects of thundergod vine and hormonal agents are not well understood.
  • HypotensivesHypotensives: Tripterygium wilfordii has reportedly caused an increase in diastolic blood pressure (8). The effects of Tripterygium wilfordii with antihypertensive agents are not well understood.
  • ImmunosuppressantsImmunosuppressants: Based on in vitro research, certain compounds in thundergod vine may have both immunosuppressant and immunostimulating activity (55; 56; 57; 58; 59; 60; 61; 62; 63; 64; 65; 66; 67; 66; 68; 69; 70; 71; 72; 73; 74; 75). The effects of thundergod vine and immunosuppressants are not well understood.
  • Nephrotoxic agentsNephrotoxic agents: In humans, use of Tripterygium wilfordii has been reported to induce kidney damage in a limited number of cases (15). Theoretically, concurrent use of Tripterygium wilfordii and nephrotoxic agents may increase the risk of kidney damage.

    • Thundergod vine/Food Interactions:

  • Phytoestrogen-containing foodsPhytoestrogen-containing foods: In human research, use of Tripterygium wilfordii has been reported to stimulate increases in luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones (19; 76), and decrease estradiol, progesterone, and E2 levels (19; 76).

    • Thundergod vine/Lab Interactions:

  • Blood pressureBlood pressure: Tripterygium wilfordii reportedly caused an increase in diastolic blood pressure (8).
  • Bone mineral densityBone mineral density: In human research, use of Tripterygium wilfordii has been reported to decrease bone mineral density in females suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (14).
  • Dipstick protein testDipstick protein test: Tripterygium wilfordii multiglycoside has been shown to cause reductions in proteinuria in vivo (101).
  • EstrogensEstrogens: In human research, use of Tripterygium wilfordii has been reported to decrease estradiol and E2 levels (19; 76).
  • Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): In human research, use of Tripterygium wilfordii has been reported to stimulate increases follicle-stimulating hormones (19; 76).
  • Liver function tests (ALT)Liver function tests (ALT): Thundergod vine (Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.f.) has been reported to transiently elevate serum ALT levels in a small number of cases (20); serum ALT values returned to normal after discontinuing thundergod vine supplementation.
  • Luteinizing hormone (LH)Luteinizing hormone (LH): In human research, use of Tripterygium wilfordii has been reported to stimulate increases in luteinizing hormones (19; 76).
  • ProgesteroneProgesterone: In human research, use of Tripterygium wilfordii has been reported to decrease progesterone levels (19; 76).
  • White blood cell (WBC) countWhite blood cell (WBC) count: In vitro, use of extracts of Tripterygium wilfordii has been associated with decrease in the number of white blood cells (leukopenia) (48; 82; 15).