A promising cancer drug which was first discovered in a mushroom commonly used in Chinese medicine, could be made more effective thanks to researchers who have discovered how the drug works. The research is funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and was implemented at The University of Nottingham.

Cordyceps, a strange parasitic mushroom, grows on caterpillars. Properties attributed to cordyceps mushroom in Chinese medicine made it interesting for reseachers to investigate and it has been studied for some time. Actually, the first scientific publication on cordycepin was in 1950. The problem was that despite cordycepin was a promising drug, it was quickly degraded in the body. It can now be given with another drug to help combat this, but the side effects of the second drug are a limit to its potential use.