Potential weight-loss agent from a tree is almost too good to be true

It has qualities so remarkable, it could come from the land of Oz (and could become the television doctor's next big thing, too): a compound derived from a tree growing in South and Central America prompted obese mice to lose 20 percent to 30 percent of their weight. It also allowed normal, healthy mice to chow down on fatty foods — as much as they wanted — and never become obese, accumulate excess fat or develop diabetes.

Oh, and it only worked in females.

A new study details the effectiveness with which a synthetic compound that mimics a flavenoid found in the leaves of the primula tree prompted the muscles of female mice to behave as if they were getting regular, intensive exercise.

Compared to female mice who got a placebo, those who got an oral formulation of a compound called 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF for short) burned more calories, became more sensitive to the effects of insulin and developed body compositions that had more lean tissue and less fat.

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