Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40745443›Full record

SynthesisScientific reports2025

Therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Tripterygium wilfordii extracts in rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical studies.

Kai Chen, Xiaoying Chen, Shuai Huang, Lingling Zhou, Xueping Zhou, Yan Lu, Zhe Feng

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Major bioactive metabolites derived fromFrontiers in pharmacology · 2026
    Review
  3. Review
  4. Dose-dependent protective effects ofFrontiers in pharmacology · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Kai Chen *The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, No.138 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing, 210023, China.
Xiaoying Chen *The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, No.138 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing, 210023, China.
Shuai HuangThe First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, No.138 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing, 210023, China.
Lingling ZhouCollege of Pharmacy, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
Xueping ZhouThe First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, No.138 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing, 210023, China.
Yan LuDepartment of Rheumatology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, China. luyanpr@qq.com.
Zhe FengThe First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, No.138 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing, 210023, China. 260583@njucm.edu.cn.

Funding

Major Basic Research Project of the Natural Science Foundation of the Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions 24KJA360003National Natural Science Foundation of China 82374187Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province BK20211299
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Tripterygium polyglycosides (TG), Triptolide (TP), and Celastrol (CEL), which are extracts from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF), are renowned for their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical evidence supporting the use of Tripterygium wilfordii extracts for RA has not yet been conducted. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the therapeutic effects and potential underlying mechanisms of Tripterygium wilfordii extracts in CIA model of RA. Six electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Ovid, were searched from their inception to June 2024. The methodological quality was assessed via SYRCLE's risk of bias tool. Statistical analyses were performed using Stata 18.0 software and Review Manager 5.4.1 software. This study included 32 articles involving 568 animals. The results revealed that Tripterygium wilfordii extracts significantly reduced joint manifestations (arthritis index, paw swelling degree, and paw thickness); histopathological changes in joints (histopathological score, cartilage damage, bone destruction, synovial hyperplasia, pannus formation, and inflammatory cell infiltration); levels of related cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-23, IFN-γ, and IL-17); anti-type II collagen antibodies; and T-cell subsets (CD4

Indexed as

Arthritis, RheumatoidPlant ExtractsTripterygiumAnimalsAnti-Inflammatory AgentsArthritis, ExperimentalDisease Models, AnimalDiterpenesEpoxy CompoundsHumansPentacyclic TriterpenesPhenanthrenesAnti-Inflammatory AgentscelastrolDiterpenesEpoxy CompoundsPentacyclic TriterpenesPhenanthrenesPlant ExtractstriptolideAnimal modelMeta-analysisPreclinical studiesRheumatoid arthritisTripterygium wilfordii extracts

Identifiers

PMID40745443
PMCPMC12314132

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.