Anti-cancer drug isolated from fungi

In a desperate attempt to reduce side effects of synthetic, anti-cancer drugs, a team of US scientists researched and isolated a potential anti-cancer drug from naturally-occurring fungus. The bioactive compounds present in the fungus can combat cancer, and the efficacy of the fungus-derived drug is at-par to conventional anti-cancer drug.
Similar research studies conducted by Dr. Mohammed Movassaghi from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and he was the first to isolate an anti-cancer compound from fungal sources. The compound was called dideoxyverticillin which was reported to be highly effective against cancer.

The initiative by Dr. Mohammed can help the development of new drugs against the dreadful and debilitating disease.

Nearly 60 different bioactive compounds were derived from the fungus, and the team analyzed the anti-cancer efficacy of the compounds in cancer cell line cultures.

Several compounds were found to be effective in killing the cancer cells in the study which was exiting, said Dr. Movassaghi.

The study was assisted by a student graduate from MIT and a chemistry professor from the Institute.

The results were published in the journal Chemical Science Reports.

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