Wilford's three-winged fruit

The Wilford's three-winged fruit, botanically Tripterygium wilfordii, is a climbing plant from the family of staff vines (Celastraceae). Native to East Asia, in particular to China, Taiwan, and Japan, it prefers to grow in moist mountain forests, along riverbanks, and in shady locations. The plant can climb several meters in height and stands out through its characteristic fruits: three-winged seed capsules that look like small propellers and give the plant its German name.

For centuries, Wilford's three-winged fruit has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where it is known as Lei Gong Teng (“thunder god vine”). It is regarded as one of the most effective, but at the same time also as a risky medicinal plant. In TCM it was used in particular for the treatment of chronic inflammation, joint complaints, and autoimmune diseases. Today it is also in the focus of modern research, since its constituents unfold a broad pharmacological spectrum of action that ranges from anti-inflammatory effects to antitumor activities. Its significance therefore lies equally in its long medicinal tradition and in its potential for modern pharmacology. In this context, however, it must not be overlooked that the plant also contains highly toxic substances and thus always represents a double-edged sword between remedy and poison.

What health benefits does Wilford's three-winged fruit offer?

In traditional medicine, a number of potential health benefits are attributed to the plant. In research, too, the plant has shown positive effects that could potentially be health-promoting. It should be noted, however, that more research is needed in order to be able to make conclusive statements about the effects of the plants:

  • Anti-inflammatory action: Extracts demonstrably inhibit inflammatory factors and the activation of immune cells, which contributes to a reduction of inflammation. This is probably why the plant was used for chronic joint complaints (1).
  • Immunomodulation: Substances such as triptolide can regulate the immune system and have been investigated in the context of autoimmune diseases (1).

How does Wilford's three-winged fruit work in the body?

The effect is based on various constituents. To date, more than 500 metabolites have been identified in the plant, among them sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, triterpenes, alkaloids, flavonoids, lignans, and glycosides. Among these metabolites, notable compounds such as triptolide, celastrol, and wilforlide presumably contribute to the effect of T. wilfordii (1).

Are there risks or side effects?

  • Toxicity: All parts of the plant, especially the roots and the bark, are toxic.
  • Side effects: Studies document liver and kidney damage, nausea, infertility, and a general weakening of the immune system (1).
  • Not suitable for self-medication: Any use should take place exclusively and in every case under medical supervision.

Conclusion

Wilford's three-winged fruit (Tripterygium wilfordii) is a medicinal plant rich in tradition from East Asia that has been used within natural medicine for centuries. Its numerous active compounds make it a research object in modern pharmacology today, in particular for autoimmune diseases and illnesses that are connected with inflammatory processes. In order to understand the effects of the plant, or rather its potentially health-promoting properties, more research is needed, although its potential appears to be great. At the same time, the plant remains risky because of its toxicity and is by no means suitable for self-application.

Sources:

  1. Shan, Y., Zhao, J., Wei, K., Jiang, P., Xu, L., Chang, C., Xu, L., Shi, Y., Zheng, Y., Bian, Y., Zhou, M., Schrodi, S. J., Guo, S., & He, D. (2023). A comprehensive review of Tripterygium wilfordii hook. f. in the treatment of rheumatic and autoimmune diseases: Bioactive compounds, mechanisms of action, and future directions. Frontiers in pharmacology, 14, 1282610. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2023.1282610