A compound found in the roots of the 'thunder god' vine could be a weight-loss drug, a study in mice suggests.

Umut Ozcan of Boston Children's Hospital in Massachusetts and his colleagues used a database of gene expression in human cells treated with various molecules to look for compounds that could increase the brain's sensitivity to leptin, a hormone that suppresses appetite. The screen fished out a compound called celastrol, found naturally in the roots of thunder god vine (Tripterygium wilfordii). Its skinned roots are used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat inflammation.

The team found that obese mice treated with celastrol ate less than untreated obese mice, and they lost up to 45% of their body weight. Genetically engineered animals that lacked normal leptin responses did not lose weight, however. Treatment of obese mice with celastrol also activated leptin signalling and reduced blood-sugar levels, with no obvious signs of toxicity.

Cell http://doi.org/4sm (2015)