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Tested in the laboratory, it obtained promising results, but scientists warn: more experiments are needed to prove its safety for human use

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Scientists have been looking around the world in recent decades for some miraculous plant that can help people with serious weight problems. During this period, the weight loss industry has established itself worldwide - often with simple solutions that are rarely effective and with very few drastic changes in terms of habits (food and physical). Coffee, almonds, cactuses and cucumbers already had their 15 minutes of fame as miraculous items, but the success did not extend.

However, in a study published in May, scientists claim that an extract from a plant popularly named God's thunder vine (Tripterygium wilfordii), common in traditional Chinese medicine, reduces appetite and decreases the body mass of obese laboratory rats by 45%.

One of the authors of the research, Umut Ozcan, an endocrinologist at Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, said the substance works by increasing the amount of the hormone leptin, derived from our adipose tissues (fat), which signals to the nervous system. central when the body already has enough stored energy. People deficient in this hormone have an abnormal appetite and eat voraciously, without finding satiety, which can make them morbidly obese.

The doctor said that, for the last twenty years, the approach to treating obesity has been to try to break the body's resistance to leptin, but without success.

During the study, Ozcan noticed that, with just a week of treatment based on the extract of God's thunder vine - which contains a substance called Celastrol - the rats reduced their food intake by 80% compared to those who did not ingest the extract. Three weeks later, the treated rats lost about half their initial weight.

The results presented are, in terms of percentage, more effective than bariatric surgery (stomach reduction). Scientists also say that there are other positive effects on the animals' health: cholesterol levels have dropped and liver functions have improved.

Celastrol was not shown to be efficient in the treatment of rats with low amounts of leptin in the body or with deficiencies in the leptin receptor.

Toxic effects were not found, but researchers recommend caution, as further experiments are needed to ascertain the safety of use in humans. It should be remembered that the plant's flowers and roots contain many other compounds that can be dangerous, according to Dr. Ozcan.

Remember that drastic attitudes towards weight loss are not ideal, but maintaining a balanced diet and constant exercise.

Source: The Washington Post