But the compound has drawn interest in anti-obesity research circles of late, with studies showing it can prevent and even reverse the condition in mice, and now a new understanding of how the compound works on a cellular level could allow the side effects to be avoided.n 2018, we looked at study centering on the weight-loss effects of celastrol, a chemical compound found in the roots of the "thunder god vine" and "Regel's threewingnut" plants. This study in mice showed that the compound can combat obesity by restoring function of a hormone called leptin, which plays a key role in the regulation of appetite by letting us know when we've had enough to eat.