A research team at the Chinese Academy of Sciences injected an extract from grape seed into elderly mice and found that the treatment increased their longevity by 9 percent, the equivalent of almost 7 extra years for a human.

The mice used in the study were the human equivalent of 75 to 90 years old.

The grape seed extract, called procyanidin C1 (PCC1), is a flavonoid, a compound that gives fruit its color.

The extract was found to flush out senescent or “zombie” cells, which are old, worn-out, and not functioning properly. Zombie cells pile up in aging bodies and cause inflammation, which has been identified as a root cause of a range of diseases and is a prime driver of aging.

Aging, in turn, nudges the body toward a range of chronic and acute conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, many of which can occur at the same time as people grow older.

The grape seed extract cleared out clots of zombie cells even in mice exposed to radiation. The treatment also heightened the benefits of chemotherapy.

The mice showed no negative effects from the treatment. Researchers are working to establish an acceptable dosing regime to use in human trials.

TRENDPOST: Big Pharma still owns the medical profession, but researchers are developing a growing arsenal of nature-based remedies that ultimately can be cheaper and will avoid the bizarre and dangerous side effects, as well as lawsuits, that synthetic drugs drag along with them. Natural alternatives will continue to grow in acceptance, especially among younger patients and discerning consumers.