Medicinal mushroom: Trametes versicolor -
Yunzhi - Turkey Tail - PSP - PSK
Trametes versicolor (Yunzhi / Turkey Tail / PSP/PSK) — formerly
known as Coriolus versicolor and Polyporus versicolor — is an
extremely common polypore mushroom which can be found throughout
the world. Versicolor means 'of several colours' and it is true
that this mushroom is found in a wide variety of different colours.
T. versicolor is commonly called Turkey Tail because of its
resemblance to the tail of the wild turkey. T. versicolor is
recognized as a medicinal mushroom in Chinese medicine under the
name yun zhi. In China and Japan T. versicolor is used as in
immunoadjuvant therapy for cancer.[1]
Description and
ecology
The top surface of the cap shows typical concentric zones of
different colours. Flesh 1–3 mm thick, leathery texture. Cap with
rust-brown or darker brown, sometimes blackish zones, Older
specimens, such as the one pictured at right, can have zones green
algae growing on them, thus appearing green. Commonly grows in
tiled layers. Cap flat, up to 8 x 5 x 0.5-1 centimeters, often
triangular or round, with zones of fine hairs. Pore surface whitish
to light brown, pores round and with age twisted and labyrinthine.
2-5 pores per millimeter
The turkey tail has bioremediation potential, according to
mycologist Paul Stamets. T. versicolor biodegrades a variety of
pollutants. It is eaten by the caterpillars of the fungus moth
Nemaxera betulinella and by the maggots of the Platypezid fly
Polyporivora picta.[2]
Medicinal value
Main article: Polysaccharide-K
Polysaccharide-K (Krestin, PSK), is a protein-bound
polysaccharide isolated from Trametes versicolor, which is used as
an immune system boosting agent in the treatment of cancer in some
European countries as well as China and Japan. In Japan, PSK is
approved as an adjuvant for cancer therapy[1] and is covered by
government health insurance.
PSK has documented anticancer activity in vitro[3], in vivo[4]
and in human clinical trials.[5] Research has also demonstrated
that the PSK can reduce mutagen-induced, radiation-induced, and
spontaneously-induced cancer development.[6] PSK has shown to be
beneficial as an adjuvant in the treatment of gastric, esophageal,
colorectal, breast and lung cancers.[7] Human clinical trials
suggest PSK can reduce cancer recurrence when used as an
adjuvant[5][8] and research has demonstrated the mushroom can
inhibit certain human cancer cell lines in vitro.[9][10][11]
Further in vitro studies have shown that a nutraceutical blend
(MC-S) of PSK, lentinan and other fungal extracts can also inhibit
cancer cell proliferation.[12]
The United States' top ranked[13] cancer hospital, the MD
Anderson has reported that it is a "promising candidate for
chemoprevention due to the multiple effects on the malignant
process, limited side effects and safety of daily oral doses for
extended periods of time."[14]
References
1. ^ a b ,
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_5_3X_Coriolous_Versicolor.asp
2. ^ Chandler, Peter J. (2001). The Flat-footed flies
(Opetiidae and Platypezidae) of Europe. Fauna Entomologica
Scandinavica. 36. Leiden: Brill. pp. 1-278. ISBN 90-04-12023-8.
3. ^ Jiménez-Medina E, Berruguilla E, Romero I, et al.
(2008), "The immunomodulator PSK induces in vitro cytotoxic
activity in tumour cell lines via arrest of cell cycle and
induction of apoptosis", BMC Cancer 8: 78,
doi:10.1186/1471-2407-8-78, PMID 18366723.
4. ^ Yamasaki A, Shoda M, Iijima H, et al. (March
2009), "A protein-bound polysaccharide, PSK, enhances tumor
suppression induced by docetaxel in a gastric cancer xenograft
model", Anticancer Res. 29 (3): 843–50, PMID 19414318.
5. ^ a b Oba K, Teramukai S, Kobayashi M, Matsui T,
Kodera Y, Sakamoto J (June 2007), "Efficacy of adjuvant
immunochemotherapy with polysaccharide K for patients with curative
resections of gastric cancer", Cancer Immunol. Immunother. 56 (6):
905–11, doi:10.1007/s00262-006-0248-1, PMID 17106715.
6. ^ PMID 7606203
7. ^ Fisher, M; Yang, Lx (May 2002). "Anticancer
effects and mechanisms of polysaccharide-K (PSK): implications of
cancer immunotherapy". Anticancer research 22 (3): 1737–54. ISSN
0250-7005. PMID 12168863. edit
8. ^ Sugimachi K, Maehara Y, Ogawa M, Kakegawa T,
Tomita M (4 August 1997), "Dose intensity of uracil and tegafur in
postoperative chemotherapy for patients with poorly differentiated
gastric cancer", Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 40 (3): 233–8,
doi:10.1007/s002800050652, PMID 9219507
9. ^ Hsieh TC, Wu JM (January 2001), "Cell growth and
gene modulatory activities of Yunzhi (Windsor Wunxi) from mushroom
Trametes versicolor in androgen-dependent and androgen-insensitive
human prostate cancer cells", Int J Oncol 18 (1): 81–8, PMID
11115542
10. ^ Dong Y, Yang MM, Kwan CY (1 January 1997), "In vitro
inhibition of proliferation of HL-60 cells by tetrandrine and
coriolus versicolor peptide derived from Chinese medicinal herbs",
Life Sci 60 (8): 135–40, doi:10.1016/S0024-3205(96)00695-9, PMID
9042394
11. ^ Yang MM, Chen Z, Kwok JS (1 January 1992), "The
anti-tumor effect of a small polypeptide from Coriolus versicolor
(SPCV)", Am J Chin Med 20 (3-4): 221–32,
doi:10.1142/S0192415X92000230, PMID 1471606
12. ^ Clark D, Adams M (2009), "A commercial nutraceutical
mix Metabolic Cell-Support (MC-S) inhibits proliferation of cancer
cell lines in vitro", Austr. J. Med. Herbal. 21: 39–43
13. ^ Best Hospitals: Cancer, U.S. News and World Report,
http://www.usnews.com/directories/hospitals/index_html/specialty+IHQCANC/,
retrieved 12 July 2009
14. ^ "Coriolus versicolor". Complementary/Integrative
Medicine Education Resources. MD Anderson Cancer Center.
http://www.mdanderson.org/education-and-research/resources-for-professionals/clinical-tools-and-resources/cimer/therapies/herbal-plant-biologic-therapies/coriolus-versicolor-scientific.html. |
