Chinese anti-inflammatory herb effective for RA

[natasa778]

A plant extract used in traditional Chinese medicine was as effective as methotrexate for the short-term treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and was superior when the two agents were given in combination, an open-label randomized trial showed.

...T. wilfordii, known in the West as thunder god vine, has long been utilized in China for its effects on joint pain, local inflammation, swelling, and fever, and is approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

The plant contains many active compounds, with diterpenoids being of primary interest.

"Many of the anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory activities of extracts of TwHF relate to the ability of the major diterpenoids to suppress the transcription of cytokines and other proinflammatory genes," Zhang and colleagues explained.

In a previous report published in Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers led by Raphaela Goldbach-Mansky, MD, of the NIH noted that TwHF also can inhibit cyclooxygenase-2, "which may result in the reduced production of prostaglandin E2 at inflammatory sites and therefore have a direct analgesic effect."

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/Arthritis/45265

 

[Hutan]

Recent news on the Thunder God Vine.
Celastrol, a molecule from the root has been found to possibly enhance action of leptin/ alleviate leptin resistance and so control obesity - in mice.

Article on this (link below) notes leptin resistance is associated with a stress response in endoplasmic reticulum.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/05/150521133630.htm

And from this site:
https://nccih.nih.gov/health/tgvine

'Currently, thunder god vine is used as a traditional or folk remedy for excessive menstrual periods and autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and lupus.'​

• • Laboratory findings suggest that thunder god vine may fight inflammation, suppress the immune system, and have anti-cancer effects.
  • Although early evidence is promising, there have been few high-quality studies of thunder god vine in people. Results from a large study funded by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), which compared an extract of thunder god vine root with a conventional medicine (sulfasalazine) for rheumatoid arthritis, found that participants’ symptoms (e.g., joint pain and swelling, inflammation) improved more significantly with thunder god vine than with sulfasalazine.

Interesting given the work on leptin regarding ME/CFS. Caution warranted as the Thunder God Root has more in it than just the celastrol and there are side effects.