A SECRET in the soil of Easter Island could turn out to be a biochemical “elixir of life”, research suggests.
Scientists believe the antifungal agent rapamycin, produced by soil bacteria, has extraordinary life-extending properties.
They predict further research on the compound could lead to a genuine “anti-ageing” pill that keeps people young.
Rapamycin was first discovered in the 1970s in soil samples from the South Pacific island famous for its ancient monoliths.
Today it is used to prevent organ rejection in transplant patients.
Researchers increased the life expectancy of mice by 38%.
