Monomers isolated from Tripterygium Wilfordii are mainly chemical compositions including two terpene

three terpene

half terpene

alkaloids

etc. The monomers show effectiveness in suppression of autoimmune diseases as well as anti-inflammatory and antitumor activity. Recent reports in the literatures show that triptolide and celastrol isolated from Tripterygium Wilfordii could inhibit glioma growth by ways of tumor cell apoptosiss

inhibition to tumor cell proliferation and differentiation and refrainning tumor angiogenesis in a dose-effect manner. The mechanism involves regulating expression of Bcl-2

Bax

NF-kappa B and down-regulating Ras/Akt and Ras/ERK signal pathways. They could reduce the RNA polymerase transcription and lower the vascular endothelial cells (EC) proliferation

transference

and the ability for forming small tube by inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor. The studies on bio-responses and the related molecular mechanism of the monomers will certainly help to illustrate the pharmacologic mechanism of actions. The future emphases will be the development of new monomers with high efficacy and low toxicity.