RESUMO
In recent years， with the rapid development of traditional Chinese medicine industry in China， the efficacy of Chinese medicinals in treating disease and maintaining health has been increasingly recognized. Tripterygium wilfordii， a Chinese medicinal for expelling wind， dredging collaterals， removing dampness， and relieving pain， is commonly used for treating acute and chronic glomerulonephritis， rheumatoid arthritis， and other diseases. However， the frequent occurrence of adverse reactions has limited its wide application in clinical practice. The existing studies have gradually confirmed that T. wilfordii and its active ingredients exert the bidirectional effects on kidney function. This paper reviewed the related clinical applications and articles published in the past decades and summarized the material basis for its bidirectional effects and the specific action mechanisms in renal protection and renal damage. It was found that the main active ingredients in T. wilfordii were tripterygium glycosides and triptolide， which exerted the protective or toxic and side effects on kidney by regulating immunity， influencing mitogen-activated protein kinases （MAPK） pathway， and changing the expression and function of renal transporters. Besides， the roles of administration time， dosage， and body status in the exertion of protective or toxic and side effects by T. wilfordii were also discussed. The review aimed to provide new ideas for the research on the treatment of kidney diseases with T. wilfordii and its safety application.