Possible New Cancer Combatant

Scientists have recently cultivated a potential new weapon in the fight against cancer. The wild mushroom, cordyceps, has given rise to a new type of drug that is being investigated as to its feasibility to combat certain types of rapidly spreading cancer.

Cordycepin has been cultivated from the exotic, parasitic mushroom that grows on caterpillars. Cordyceps has been used in Chinese Medicine for years but only recently has been stabilized to prevent rapid degradation in the human body.

Further research has allowed scientists to determine how cordyceps acts to inhibit cell growth. Cordyceps prevents the messages sent from mRNA that tell a cell to divide and tell the cell to make proteins. Preventing additional protein growth is a major step to prevent cancer from spreading.

Research by the scientists allows the drug to be used for rapid advancements in testing without exposure to animals and to rule out ineffective strains.

Wild Mushroom May Combat Cancer