亦有学者于国际著名杂志《细胞》的子刊《Cell Chemical Biology》发表文章宣布冬虫夏草中不含具抗癌功效的“喷司他丁”(Pentostatin),及由此生物合成产生的虫草素。研究又指出,虫草素含量过高时会在真菌中引起细胞毒性,这意味着对于人类来说,不宜摄入过量的虫草素[原創研究?]。[15]
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