Tripterygium wilfordii

Tripterygium wilfordii

(Chinese medicine and plant records)

[synonyms] huangtenggen, Huangyao, shuimangcao, duanchangcao, caichongyao, nanshegen, sanlenghua, hanhehua (Hunan medicinal records), huangtengmu (Guangxi Medicinal Plant List), Hongyao, hongzigen, huangtengcao (Jiangxi herbal medicine manual).

[source] it is the root, leaf and flower of Tripterygium wilfordii.

[plant morphology] Tripterygium wilfordii

Climbing vines, 2-3 m high. Branchlets reddish brown, angular, with oblong tubercles and rust Brown villi. Simple leaves alternate, sub leathery, ovate, elliptic or broadly ovate, 5-10 cm long and 3-5 cm wide, apex acuminate, base rounded or broadly cuneate, margin serrate, smooth above and light green below, main veins and lateral veins slightly raised on both sides of leaves, veins sparsely rusty brown pubescence: petiole about 5 mm long, surface densely rusty brown short villi. Flowers small, white, terminal or axillary large panicle, calyx 5-lobed; petals 5, elliptic; stamens 5, filaments near base, wider, inserted at the edge of cup-shaped disk; ovary superior, trigonous, style short, stigma capitate. Samara, membranous, apex rounded or slightly truncate, base rounded, ca. 1.5 cm long, ca. 1 cm wide, yellowish brown, 3-ribbed, usually with 1 seed in the center. Seeds slender, linear. The flowering period is from May to June. The fruit ripens from August to September.

It grows in shady, wet and slightly fertile hillside, valley, stream side shrub and secondary mixed forest. Distributed in Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Anhui, Hunan, Guangdong, Fujian, Taiwan and other places.

[collection] harvest in summer and autumn.

[chemical constituents] the roots contain triptolidine, triptoline, triptoline, triptoline and triptolizene.

In addition, Tripterygium wilfordii contains celastrol, celastrol, triptolide, glucose and tannin.

[pharmacological action] insecticidal action

The aqueous and ethanol extracts of Tripterygium wilfordii were toxic to both Dendrolimus piriformis and leafroller, but the petroleum ether, ether or methane trioxide extracts of Tripterygium wilfordii had no insecticidal activity.

[toxicity] Tripterygium wilfordii has different toxicity to various animals. It is highly toxic to humans, dogs, pigs and insects, and can cause poisoning or even death, but it is non-toxic to sheep, rabbits, cats, mice and fish. There are two effects of Tripterygium wilfordii on the body: one is to stimulate the local gastrointestinal tract; the other is to damage the central nervous system (including thalamus, midbrain, medulla oblongata, cerebellum and spinal cord) after absorption, and cause bleeding and necrosis of liver and heart. It is said that Tripterygium wilfordii is mainly toxic to the heart of animals, but it is also toxic to other smooth muscle and striated muscle, which is the cause of death. The first aid measures after poisoning are emesis, gastric lavage, enema, catharsis and other general methods. The biological detoxification method using sheep blood or rabbit stomach extract has not yet been determined. The toxic components of Tripterygium wilfordii could be leached by ether, but the toxicity disappeared completely after reduction.

[nature and taste] "bitter, poisonous. "

[function indications] Hunan medicine records: "killing insects, anti inflammation, detoxification. "

[should not] this product is highly toxic. Oral administration should be cautious.

[prescription selection] ① treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: the roots and leaves of Leigongteng are mashed and applied externally, and they should be removed after half an hour, otherwise they will blister. (Jiangxi herbal medicine manual)

② Treatment of skin itching: Tripterygium wilfordii leaves, mash, apply. (Hunan medical records)

③ Wither flower wipe sores, leiteng: belt. (Hunan medical records)

[clinical application] 1

The inner and outer skins of the dried roots of Tripterygium wilfordii were completely removed, and the xylem slices were dried in the sun. For each 4 yuan, add 2500 ml of water, simmer for 3-4 hours, take 250 ml of brown liquid, take it in the morning and evening, 3-4 days as a course of treatment. 167 cases of leprosy (including 27 cases of tuberculous type and 140 cases of tumor type) were treated. The symptoms were controlled after 2-3 doses.

② Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Tripterygium wilfordii (take xylem, the same as above) 5 money, add 400 ml of water, simmer for 2 hours (without cover), get 150 ml of liquid, residue and then add water to decoct 100 ml, mixed two times in the morning and evening, 7-10 days as a course of treatment, stop 2-3 between courses of treatment, no treatment in 50 cases, 1-20 courses of treatment, most of 5-6 courses. Among them, 44 cases had different degrees of improvement or remission.

③ Treatment of tuberculosis and other chronic lung diseases

Pick the roots in late summer and early autumn, wash, dry and chop. Every 31.2 g of Tripterygium wilfordii, add 1000 ml of water, simmer until about 500 ml (0.62 g of crude drug in every 10 ml). From now on, the dosage can be slightly increased or decreased depending on the patient's condition and physical condition, but the dosage should not exceed 10-25 ml. If there is no obvious side effect after 7-10 days, the medication time can be extended; but if the medication time is too long, the medication should be stopped for a short time, generally for 5-7 days after 20-30 days. After treatment of 99 cases, cough, expectoration, fever, asthma and other symptoms of most patients were alleviated in varying degrees. In the course of treatment, according to the prescribed dosage, there are basically no side effects; if the constitution is weak, there may be nausea, gastrointestinal discomfort and fear of cold and other reactions.

④ Poisoning and detoxification

Tripterygium wilfordii is a kind of highly toxic drug, especially in the skin. The skin should be peeled strictly, including the double skin and the skin in the tree seam. According to the research of relevant units, Tripterygium wilfordii has two effects on the body: one is to stimulate the local gastrointestinal tract; the other is to damage the central nervous system including the thalamus, midbrain, medulla oblongata, cerebellum and spinal cord after absorption, and can cause bleeding and necrosis of liver and heart. The common poisoning symptoms were dizziness, palpitation, weakness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, liver and kidney pain, blood and feces. For the sake of prudence, it should be forbidden for patients with organic diseases such as heart, liver, kidney, stomach and pregnant women; it should be stopped immediately when nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, abdominal distension, pain in liver and kidney area, abnormal protein in urine and serum transaminase appear in the course of treatment. In addition to vomiting, gastric lavage, enema and catharsis, you can take 4 liang fresh radish juice or 8 Liang stewed radish seed, or you can use fresh leek juice or strong tea or sheep blood to detoxify. According to the observation of more than 20 poisoning cases, the symptoms of poisoning were abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, howling and struggling, but no fever. Most of the deaths occurred within 24 hours, up to 4 days. If you take Tripterygium wilfordii within 4 hours with emetic, laxative, generally can be cured.