Fountain of youth 'may be less divine than we think'

Washington, Apr 19 (ANI): Researchers have shed new light into the war on aging, insisting that 'The Fountain of Youth' may all have to do with Buckminsterfullerene, a molecule composed of 60 carbon atoms, bonded together in the shape of a geodesic sphere.

The Fountain of Youth is a legendary spring that is known for offering rejuvenation if not eternal life to those who drink its water.

Buckminsterfullerene has potential medical applications in the treatment of cancer and HIV, and also in the creation of body armour.

A new research by Universite Paris-Sud suggests that Buckminsterfullerene - also known as buckyballs - could be used to make us live longer.

In a clinical trial, three groups of rats were fed different substances. The first was given a control, the second was fed olive oil and the third was fed a combination of olive oil and Buckminsterfullerene. The control group had a lifespan of only 22 months while the strictly olive oil group lived an average of 26 months, the Discovery News reported.

However, researchers were quite surprised with the olive oil/buckeyball group. Rats that ingested that mixture lived an amazing 42 months.

However, no research has been conducted on humans yet.esearchers asserted that Buckminsterfullerene works by reducing the oxidative stress that causes aging.

"These results of importance in the fields of medicine and toxicology should open the way for the many possible applications of fullerene, including cancer therapy, neurodegenerative disorders and ageing," the article explained.

The researchers published their findings in Biomaterials. (ANI)