Root of Tripterygium wilfordii Celastrol is produced in the root of the conventional medical plant Tripterygium wilfordii. Within its roots, the plant produces the compound celastrol, a chemical representative with effective anti-obesity properties.Experiments utilizing mice on a high fat diet plan have actually revealed that the mice offered celastrol gained 45% less weight than the control group. Far, there has actually been no effective technique to achieve this,” states Sotirios Kampranis, professor at the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences.Yong Zhao and Sotirios KampranisYong Zhao and Sotirios Kampranis with celastrol produced in yeast cells Credit: Yao-Tao DuanYeast as surrogate momIn approaching the issue, the research team from the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences sought to find a method to produce the compound biotechnologically. These actions are crucial to understand in order to recreate the compound biosynthetically.THUNDER GOD VINEThe plant, Thunder god vine, which in Latin is called Tripterygium wilfordii, has actually been utilized for thousands of years in standard Chinese medication to treat rheumatoid arthritis and as a contraceptive.The plant grows in the mountainous regions of Southern China, where regional collectors harvest it. Here, of course, the pharmaceutical market should take over,” says Yong Zhao.Reference: “Biosynthesis and biotechnological production of the anti-obesity agent celastrol” by Yong Zhao, Nikolaj L. Hansen, Yao-Tao Duan, Meera Prasad, Mohammed S. Motawia, Birger L. Møller, Irini Pateraki, Dan Staerk, Søren Bak, Karel Miettinen and Sotirios C. Kampranis, 26 June 2023, Nature Chemistry.DOI: 10.1038/ s41557-023-01245-7The scientists behind the research study are: Yong Zhao, Nikolaj L. Hansen, Yao-Tao Duan, Meera Prasad, Mohammed S. Motawia, Birger L. Møller, Irini Pateraki, Dan Staerk, Søren Bak, Karel Miettinen and Sotirios C. Kampranis, all from the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences and the Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology at the University of Copenhagen.The University of Copenhagen has actually submitted for a patent application for the invention and is presently in talks with potential partners about advertising the method.The job is supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
Within its roots, the plant produces the substance celastrol, a chemical representative with powerful anti-obesity properties.Experiments utilizing mice on a high fat diet have shown that the mice provided celastrol acquired 45% less weight than the control group. Far, there has been no effective method to attain this,” says Sotirios Kampranis, teacher at the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences.Yong Zhao and Sotirios KampranisYong Zhao and Sotirios Kampranis with celastrol produced in yeast cells Credit: Yao-Tao DuanYeast as surrogate momIn approaching the problem, the research group from the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences looked for to find a method to produce the compound biotechnologically. These actions are important to know in order to recreate the substance biosynthetically.THUNDER GOD VINEThe plant, Thunder god vine, which in Latin is called Tripterygium wilfordii, has actually been utilized for thousands of years in conventional Chinese medication to treat rheumatoid arthritis and as a contraceptive.The plant grows in the mountainous areas of Southern China, where regional collectors collect it.