Known in English as Turkey Tail, Trametes versicolor is a contender for the title "World's Most Common Mushroom." You can find it from tropical rain forests to the Siberian taiga, feasting on dead wood.
When one considers Trametes competing against so many different fungi and bacteria in such diverse environments, its obvious that it must have a powerful immune system, with the potential for powerful medicinal compounds.
In Oriental medicine, Trametes extract is used as a remedy for liver cancer and jaundice. [160] To modern medicine, the best researched medicinal compound from Trametes is known as PSK. Under the brand name Krestin, PSK is used in Asia as a cancer drug. [188]
In the 1990's, two Japanese studies including 486 patients reported increased survival when PSK was used as an adjunct to chemotherapy for gastric cancer. [161, 162, 163] Other studies have shown that PSK reduces metastasis and cancer recurrence. [161, 162, 164]
Two other polysaccharides from Trametes versicolor extract have been found to have an inhibitory effect on leukemia. The polysaccharide CVP was shown to inhibit leukemia cell proliferation without any negative effect on normal lymphocytes. [165, 166, 167] Another smaller polysaccharide named SPCV also had an inhibitory effect on leukemia cells. [168]
It appears that Trametes extract helps combat cancer in two ways:
1) By a direct inhibitory effect on the proliferation of cancer cells.
2) Through stimulating Natural Killer (NK) cells in humans. [169, 170, 171] NK cells are a vital part of the human immune system's cancer fighting arsenal.
Though the effectiveness against different forms of cancer varies, PSK is currently used to treat cervical cancer in conjunction with radiation. Studies have linked it to increased survival rate from cervical cancer. [134] It also decreases tumor cell regeneration in hormone responsive prostate cancer, as demonstrated in a 2001 study at New York Medical College. [172]
Other cancer types where PSK shows promising results include lung, breast and colon cancer, [25, 173] but not Sarcoma 180. [174]
PSK is also a powerful antibiotic, specifically against Listeria monocytogenes, Candida albicans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Cryptococcus neoformans and Staphylococcus aureus. [175, 176, 177, 178, 179]
Another compound (PSP) isolated from Trametes versicolor has been shown to inhibit HIV replication [180] and infection [181] under lab conditions. It has not been tested on live patients.
In a study conducted in 1995, PSK demonstrated effectiveness at normalizing the immune function of people with chronic rheumatoid arthritis. [182]
Paul Stamets, in his book Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms, says he's aware of several individuals with Hepatitis C reporting symptom relief on a regimen of medicinal mushroom tea. In particular, he mentions a man with a swollen spleen and liver. Every day, he would drink a tea made from Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) and Trametes versicolor (Turkey Tail Mushroom). The swelling disappeared after two weeks. His liver enzymes normalized as HVC was reduced from 1.3 million to 140,000. [183]
Trametes versicolor extracts also contain many antioxidant compounds, [184, 185, 186, 187] and may assist the recovery of the spleen after radiation. [189]
Last but not least, Paul Stamets in his book Mycelium Running also list the following two areas where research indicates Trametes versicolor may be beneficial: Uterine cancer; kidney health. [134]
Note: The statements on this page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult a licensed medical practitioner before using any herb (or mushroom) for medicinal purposes.
Credits: Thank you, Paul Stamets, for research references.
When one considers Trametes competing against so many different fungi and bacteria in such diverse environments, its obvious that it must have a powerful immune system, with the potential for powerful medicinal compounds.
In Oriental medicine, Trametes extract is used as a remedy for liver cancer and jaundice. [160] To modern medicine, the best researched medicinal compound from Trametes is known as PSK. Under the brand name Krestin, PSK is used in Asia as a cancer drug. [188]
In the 1990's, two Japanese studies including 486 patients reported increased survival when PSK was used as an adjunct to chemotherapy for gastric cancer. [161, 162, 163] Other studies have shown that PSK reduces metastasis and cancer recurrence. [161, 162, 164]
Two other polysaccharides from Trametes versicolor extract have been found to have an inhibitory effect on leukemia. The polysaccharide CVP was shown to inhibit leukemia cell proliferation without any negative effect on normal lymphocytes. [165, 166, 167] Another smaller polysaccharide named SPCV also had an inhibitory effect on leukemia cells. [168]
It appears that Trametes extract helps combat cancer in two ways:
1) By a direct inhibitory effect on the proliferation of cancer cells.
2) Through stimulating Natural Killer (NK) cells in humans. [169, 170, 171] NK cells are a vital part of the human immune system's cancer fighting arsenal.
Though the effectiveness against different forms of cancer varies, PSK is currently used to treat cervical cancer in conjunction with radiation. Studies have linked it to increased survival rate from cervical cancer. [134] It also decreases tumor cell regeneration in hormone responsive prostate cancer, as demonstrated in a 2001 study at New York Medical College. [172]
Other cancer types where PSK shows promising results include lung, breast and colon cancer, [25, 173] but not Sarcoma 180. [174]
PSK is also a powerful antibiotic, specifically against Listeria monocytogenes, Candida albicans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Cryptococcus neoformans and Staphylococcus aureus. [175, 176, 177, 178, 179]
Another compound (PSP) isolated from Trametes versicolor has been shown to inhibit HIV replication [180] and infection [181] under lab conditions. It has not been tested on live patients.
In a study conducted in 1995, PSK demonstrated effectiveness at normalizing the immune function of people with chronic rheumatoid arthritis. [182]
Paul Stamets, in his book Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms, says he's aware of several individuals with Hepatitis C reporting symptom relief on a regimen of medicinal mushroom tea. In particular, he mentions a man with a swollen spleen and liver. Every day, he would drink a tea made from Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) and Trametes versicolor (Turkey Tail Mushroom). The swelling disappeared after two weeks. His liver enzymes normalized as HVC was reduced from 1.3 million to 140,000. [183]
Trametes versicolor extracts also contain many antioxidant compounds, [184, 185, 186, 187] and may assist the recovery of the spleen after radiation. [189]
Last but not least, Paul Stamets in his book Mycelium Running also list the following two areas where research indicates Trametes versicolor may be beneficial: Uterine cancer; kidney health. [134]
Note: The statements on this page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult a licensed medical practitioner before using any herb (or mushroom) for medicinal purposes.
Credits: Thank you, Paul Stamets, for research references.
About the Author:
Dr. Rafael currently focuses on writing and researching about medicinal fungi in cooperation with Cordyceps Reishi Extracts, LLC, a US company offering Trametes extract and other medicinal mushrooms. For article references, please go to Trametes versicolor extract and click on any number indicating a reference.
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