Insecticidal fungus could help develop cancer drug

In a study published in the scientific journal Boundaries in MicrobiologyScientists at Chungbuk National University in South Korea, mushrooms cordycepsIt has been known to infect insects and turn them into “zombies”. Again, Researchers suggest that the fungus could be used to develop new antiviral and cancer drugs..

Cordyceps produces a bioactive compound called cordycepin that can help create these drugs. Despite the difficulties in cultivating the fungus, the team of scientists has created a culture format that produces in a controlled environment without losing the potency of its benefits.

Cordicepin is one of the cytotoxic nucleoside analogues with complementary therapeutic activities in antiproliferation and antimetastasis in cancer cells. Additionally, recent research findings strongly recommend preclinical and clinical trials of cordycepine for the comprehensive treatment of COVID-19.”

Cordyceps against cancer

Cordyceps are known to feed on insects such as crickets, silkworms, grasshoppers, among others, until the animals begin to grow on them and kill them. So the scientists used different insects to grow the fungus for two months, until they harvested it and started analysis.

The researchers found that the growth of the fungus is different in each insect, due to different nutrients. They found that Cordyceps matured better in mealworms and silkworms. However, breeding in Japanese rhinoceros beetles created cordycepin levels 34 times higher than in silkworms.

Currently, there are about 400 species of the genus Cordyceps, known as an entomopathogenic fungus. In fact, many enthusiasts of the mushroom kingdom are breeding different strains of Cordyceps, and some of them are even edible and promise to help in the treatment of different diseases – curiosity: the fungus is the inspiration for the infection that destroyed the game world. what’s left of us.