'Elixir of youth' drug could fight HIV and ageing

A drug extracted from a plant used in Chinese medicine has helped immune cells fight HIV and raises the possibility of slowing the ageing process in other parts of our bodies

TAT2 is a drug extracted from the root of a plant called Astragalus that is thought to boost telomerase production and is traditionally used in Chinese medicine as a boost for the immune system.

TAT2 could also find applications in other diseases and general ageing.

Journal reference: The Journal of Immunology (vol 181, p 7400)
New Scientist , 13 November 2008 by Linda Geddes