An anti-fungal drug used to treat skin fungus has the ability to inhibit the growth of cancer, a new study says.

Researchers found Griseofulvin, an anti-fungal drug used for the past 40 years, has the ability to inhibit the growth of cancer cells in a manner that is similar to much more powerful anticancer drugs such as taxol and vinblastine.

Leslie Wilson, professor of biochemistry and pharmacology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, said: "Although its anti-cancer activity is weak, it is already approved for human use and could be used along with more powerful anticancer agents as an adjuvant in cancer chemotherapy."

"The drug has remarkably few side effects and has been used for a long time," says the science portal EurekAlert.org.

Griseofulvin is administered orally and has been used to treat ringworm and other fungal infections of the skin.