Therapeutic Potential of Triptolide in Treating Bone-Related Disorders

Abstract

Triptolide, a diterpene triepoxide, is a pharmacologically active compound isolated from a Chinese medicinal herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF). Triptolide has attracted considerable attention in recent times due to its multiple biological and pharmaceutical activities, with an emphasis on therapeutic importance in the treatment of diverse disorders. With essential medicinal implications, TwHF’s extracts have been used as anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, antioxidative, and immunosuppressive agents for centuries, with continuous and relevant modifications to date to enhance its utility in several diseases and pathophysiology. Here, in this review, we accentuate the studies, highlighting the effects of triptolide on treating bone-related disorders, both inflammatory and cancerous, particularly osteosarcoma, and their manifestations. Based on this review, future avenues could be estimated for potential research strategies, molecular mechanisms, and outcomes that might contribute toward reinforcing new dimensions in the clinical application of triptolide in treating bone-related disorders.

Targeting signaling pathways in osteosarcoma: Mechanisms and clinical studies

“…Moreover, Dkk-1 overexpression or β-catenin knockdown enhanced the inhibitory impact of oridonin on the proliferation of 143B cells. 264 Cantharidin, 265 triptolide, 266,267 polyphyllin I, 268 piperidin, 269 and evodiamin 270 can inhibit GSK-3β phosphorylation and β-catenin activity, downregulate the Snail, vimentin, N-cadherin, MMP-2, MMP-7, and MMP-9 expression and upregulate the levels of E-cadherin, thereby effectively inhibiting OS cell proliferation and metastasis as well as ectopic angiogenesis by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. In vitro trials have illustrated that oleuropein inhibits the proliferation and invasion of OS cells, promotes apoptosis, and exerts good anticancer effects.…”

Network pharmacology and experiment validation investigate the potential mechanism of triptolide in oral squamous cell carcinoma

“…Triptolide is a natural diterpenoid epoxide that is obtained from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb also known as “Lei Gong Teng” or “Thunder God Vine” ( Gang et al, 2022 ). Triptolide was isolated in 1972 for the first time and then used as an anti-leukemia drug (Kupchan et al, 1972).…”