Natural compound obakulactone shows therapeutic potential for rheumatoid arthritis

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260425/Natural-compound-obakulactone-shows-therapeutic-potential-for-rheumatoid-arthritis.aspx?utm_source=news_medical_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=arthritis_newsletter_29_april_2026 A new study published in Engineering reveals that obakulactone (OL), a natural tetracyclic triterpenoid isolated from Phellodendri cortex, exerts a therapeutic effect on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by promoting the degradation of acyl coenzyme A thioesterase 1 (ACOT1) via the ubiquitin‒proteasome pathway and restoring the homeostasis of unsaturated fatty acids. The research clarifies the molecular mechanism of OL in RA intervention and identifies ACOT1 as a novel potential target for RA treatment, providing new insights into fatty acid metabolism reprogramming as a therapeutic strategy for RA.