Advance of the Research on Tripterygium wilfordii Hook f. to A New Height

Tripterygium wilfordii Hook f. (TW) has long been a treasure among Chinese traditional herbs. As a prospective drug, it has been used widely in recent 20 years, and has aroused extensive attention at home and abroad. In the 1980s and 1990s, the study of TW reached its apex. At that period three National Symposiums were held in Honghu (1987), Wuhan (1991) and Nanjing (1995) respectively, which promoted greatly the study of TW, and launched the first high tide, meeting call of the state “To gain first-rate achievement” and “Do original study”.The medical utilization of TW embodies the creativity and characteristics of Chinese traditional medicine. TW has noticeable effects, multiple mechanisms and great potency with controllable toxicity.