In 2008, it was reported that a screening of traditional Chinese medicine plants

identified a compound called Cycleastrogenol in the roots of the astragalus plant that appeared

to moderately enhanced telomerase activation. That syn-enzyme I've covered before that a body uses to try to reverse one aspect

of cellular aging by elongating your telomeres, the protective caps on your chromosomes.

Three years later, after it was shown to elongate short telomeres and improve health span,

though not lifespan, in mice,

a one-year human trial was published.

Although in most of the subjects telomeres continued to shorten on average, there did seem

to be a significant reduction in the proportion of cells with critically short telomeres,

and the side effects looked good, including a drop in LDL cholesterol and blood pressure,

but there was no control group in cyclo-astrogenal branded as TA-65

was but one of over 50 vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other compounds they gave to the research subjects that year.

When TA-65 was finally properly put to the test in randomized

controlled trials, there was no cholesterol or blood pressure benefit whatsoever, but

in cytosomavirus-positive patients, a significant telomere lengthening effect was

demonstrated at one dose, but not at another. Those with chronic viral infections such as CMV or HIV

tend to have white blood cells with especially truncated telomeres. The only such study

showing clinical benefit was a year-long pilot study of TA-65 for early age-related macular

degeneration, though it was funded by the company that sells it for

$600 a bottle.

They grossed more than $50 million before the Federal Trade Commission charged them with false

and deceptive claims and practices.

...