Could Easter Island hold the key to anti-aging?

A promising anti-aging compound found around the statues of Easter Island continues to impress scientists, notes Metro.

Called rapamycin, it is a naturally occurring by-product of bacteria from this area.

According to an article published in Chemical and Engineering News, a soil sample containing the substance was first collected by a team of researchers in 1964.

Eventually, scientists discovered that rapamycin could fight fungus, act as an immunosuppressant and prevent cells from dividing.

Photos of Easter Island:

It has also been shown to increase the longevity of a variety of animals including fruit flies, yeast, and a species of worm; this enhanced lifespan has been attributed to the suppression of a protein called mTOR.

A separate study on mice showed that males and females treated with rapamycin lived 9 percent and 14 percent longer, respectively, compared to the control group.

Despite promising results related to anti-aging, scientists caution that there may be unknown adverse long-term effects, notes the Daily Mail.