Research on Vita Green Yunzhi Essence has been conducted by Chen Xiaojun of the Sun Yat-sen University's Cancer Centre.
The study focused on the effects Yunzhi had on telomerase, which is an enzyme.
Telomerase is a key area of research because if activated a cell will continue to grow and divide, making the cell 'immortal'.
The 'immortal cell' theory is the focus of research in two areas - cancer and ageing.
Telomerase has been found in human cancer cells and it is about 10 to 20 times more active than in normal cells. If the enzyme's activity can be switched off, then cancer cells will be prevented from dividing uncontrollably.
In the case of a developed tumour, it could be removed and anti-telomerase therapy could be administered to prevent relapse. This therapy to prevent telomerase from performing its function would change cancer cells from being 'immortal' to 'mortal'.