Coriolus versicolor (Trametes versicolor) “Turkey tail Mushroom
This is one of the most well-researched medicinal mushrooms in the world. It is a biological response modifier. Turkey Tail has been used in Chinese Medicine as a tonic for centuries. Studies show that it improves survival rates and acts as an immune modulator with immune stimulating and anti-tumor properties. Some studies show that it can enhance the effects of chemotherapy cancer treatment and reduce the side effects of radiation therapy.
Cordyceps sinensis increases ATP (adenosine triphosphate) levels in the body by almost 28 per cent
MD Anderson’s website covers research on gastric cancer, lymphoma, leukaemia and lung cancer cell lines being suppressed by extracts of coriolus.
Coriolus versicolor is able to make the shift from TH2 to TH1 through its polysaccharides peptides. If a body moves from TH1 response to TH2 and then does not shift back, the system becomes locked into an inflammatory state. This is bad. The reduction in TH1 levels means a reduction in NK cells and the body’s ability to destroy cancer cells. The TH2 inflammatory response stimulates the creation of new blood vessels around damaged tissues and this can lead to tumour growth. Coriolus versicolor also increases Natural Killer cells, and CD8+ T-cells (a type of white blood cell) that can kill cancer cells Coriolus Versicolor has been shown to activate T-lymphocyte production, macrophage activity and other immune system functions.
Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor), is a common medicinal mushroom shown to have anticancer effects in ongoing research in this country. Use liquid or encapsulated extracts
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3339609/
The turkey tail mushroom or cloud mushroom, Trametes versicolor or Coriolus versicolor has been studied to have anti-tumor property against many types of cancers. Hsieh and Wu (2001) studied that ethanolic extracts T. versicolor reduces the growth of hormone responsive prostate cancer
http://bastyr.edu/news/general-news/2012/11/fda-approves-bastyr-turkey-tail-trial-cancer-patients
FDA Approves Bastyr Turkey Tail Trial for Cancer Patients
Turkey tail, named for its colorful stripes, is the humble fungus at the center of a $5.4 million collaboration between Bastyr, the University of Washington and others, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The mushroom grows widely in forests around the world, but its health potential has never been fully measured in scientific trials.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a clinical trial for a turkey tail extract, allowing patients with advanced prostate cancer to take it in combination with conventional chemotherapy
https://www.mskcc.org/search?keys=turkey+tail
Purported Uses
- Cancer prevention
- Cancer treatment
- Chemotherapy side effects
- Hepatitis
- Herpes
- Immunostimulation
- Infections
- Radiation therapy side effects
- Strength and stamina
Coriolus versicolor is a mushroom of the Basidiomycetes class. It is used in traditional Chinese medicine as a tonic, and recent studies suggest that it has immunostimulant and anti-tumor properties. Polysaccharide-K (PSK), a proprietary product derived from Coriolus, was developed for cancer treatment in Japan. When used as an adjuvant, PSK appears to improve survival rates in patients with gastric (1) (2) and colorectal (3) (4) (5) cancers. It may also benefit patients with esophageal cancer (27). Other Coriolus extracts, such as polysaccharide-peptide (PSP) and VPS, are available as dietary supplements. One clinical study demonstrated that when used in conjunction with chemotherapy, PSP may benefit patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (6). Other clinical studies using Coriolus extract alone or in combination with other botanicals also suggest positive immunomodulatory effects (7) (8). However, studies on breast cancer (9), hepatocellular carcinoma (10), and leukemia (11) produced mixed results. A hot water extract of Coriolus, VPS, was found to enhance development of large intestinal tumors in