Researchers extracted and studied special compounds called polysaccharides from the spores of Cordyceps cicadae, a medicinal fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine. When tested in mice treated with a cancer drug that suppresses immunity, one of these purified compounds (CCSP-2) successfully restored immune function and reduced harmful oxidative stress. The compound works by boosting the activity of immune cells and protecting the body’s natural antioxidant defense systems, suggesting it could potentially help cancer patients manage chemotherapy side effects.