Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have unveiled a low cost, swift and safe method to produce celastrol, a compound used in weight management therapies. In the past, this molecule was harvested from a rare and highly toxic plant native to East Asia. The discovery was reported in Nature Chemistry, a leading scientific journal.
Animal studies indicate that celastrol can reduce weight gain significantly, with mice showing a 45 percent slowdown in weight increase under the right conditions. The mechanism appears to involve restoring the body’s sensitivity to leptin, a hormone that signals the need to burn calories and regulate body weight. In humans, this same pathway could translate to improved metabolic control when celastrol is used appropriately.
Historically, celastrol came from Tripterygium wilfordii, a vine found in parts of China, Japan and Korea. This plant has a long history in traditional medicine but is linked to serious safety concerns due to its toxicity. In traditional Chinese culture the plant is sometimes called the vine of God, and there are warnings about its lethal risks if misused. The plant often grows in hard to reach mountainous areas, which has hampered sustainable harvesting.
To manufacture synthetic celastrol, scientists inserted the essential genetic instructions and enzymes into a standard yeast system. The single celled fungus acted as the bio factory. The process took roughly one week, yielding a pure celastrol without the toxic impurities associated with the natural plant source.
The researchers note that this biotechnological approach could extend beyond celastrol, potentially enabling the production of other medicines that are currently derived from petrochemical processes.
Earlier work in related fields suggested that chitin, a biopolymer obtained from insect shells, might have supportive effects on weight management in some contexts. This line of inquiry continues to be explored as part of a broader effort to develop safer, plant friendly and sustainable weight control options.
The new synthetic method highlights how fermentation-based production can reduce reliance on risky natural sources and pave the way for scalable, greener pharmaceutical manufacturing. It also opens doors to rethinking how similar compounds could be redesigned for medical uses while minimizing exposure to hazardous plant material. Researchers emphasize that further studies in humans are necessary to confirm efficacy, optimal dosing, and safety profiles before any clinical adoption.