Chinese scientists find compound which may help fight obesity

Chinese scientists have discovered a compound from the extract of a medicinal herb which targets cell metabolism and may help prevent obesity.
The new compound Celastrol was extracted from thunder god vine, a natural extract that reduces pain and inflammation, and artemisinin developed from sweet wormwood.
The research team led by Zhang Xiaokun, professor with the College of Medicine at Xiamen University, found that Celastrol could clear inflamed mitochondria from cells to alleviate inflammation, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Mitochondria plays an integral role in cell death, immunity and inflammation. By affecting inflamed mitochondria, Celastrol can help control cell metabolism.

Zhang said his team would continue to research how Celastrol regulates metabolism to explore new drugs with low toxicity and high efficiency to help people lose weight.
The team carried out the research on mice and found that Celastrol could effectively control weight increases in mice feeding on high fat food.

Like sweet wormwood, thunder god vine is native to China though it also grows in other East Asian countries.
The herb has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating arthritis and autoimmune diseases, the report said.
However, the whole plant is extremely toxic and in modern research has been used in clinical trials on AIDS treatment.

Its compounds have been found to have the potential to treat joint pain and rheumatoid arthritis, the report said.
The discovery of artemisinin had won Chinese scientist Tu Youyou the Nobel Prize in 2015.
The research was published in science journal Molecular Cell on Thursday.
The research has been supported by the National Nature and Science Foundation and Xiamen South Sea Center.