Known in English as Turkey Tail, Coriolus 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.
Considering the vast array of bacteria and other fungi it has to compete with for space, it stands to reason that it must possess a powerful immune system; an immune system with potentially powerful medicinal compounds for humans.
In Oriental medicine, Coriolus extract is used as a remedy for liver cancer and jaundice. [160] To modern medicine, the best researched medicinal compound from Coriolus is known as PSK. Under the brand name Krestin, PSK is used in Asia as a cancer drug. [188]
Two Japanese studies in the 1990’s encompassing a total of 486 patients showed an increased survival rate from gastric cancer when PSK was added to conventional chemotherapy treatment. [161, 162, 163] It’s also been found that PSK reduces cancer metastasis and recurrence. [161, 162, 164]
Two other polysaccharides from Coriolus 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]
Coriolus versicolor extract appears to 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.
Efficacy against different types of cancers varies. PSK is used in Asia for cervical cancer as an adjunct to radiation therapy. It has been linked to increased survival rate from that type of cancer. [134] It was also shown to decrease tumor growth in hormone responsive prostate cancer by a study at New York Medical College in 2001. [172]
Other forms of cancer that PSK has been tested against with promising results include breast, lung and colon cancer. [25, 173] It appears ineffective against 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]
Tests in vitro (test tubes / Petri dishes - not live subjects) have even shown a compound (PSP) from Coriolus versicolor extract to inhibit the replication [180] and infection of HIV. [181]
In 1995, a study on rheumatoid arthritis and PSK reported normalization of immune function. [182]
In the book Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms, Paul Stamets mentions being aware of several individuals with Hepatitis C reporting relief of symptoms from using medicinal mushroom tea. He specifically relates a case of a man with swollen liver and spleen starting on a daily regimen of tea made from Coriolus versicolor (Turkey Tail Mushroom) and Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi). After two weeks, the swelling went down and liver enzymes normalized. His HCV value went from 1.3 million to 140,000. [183]
Coriolus extract also is rich in antioxidants [184, 185, 186, 187] and has been shown to help the spleen recover after radiation therapy. [189]
In his book Mycelium Running, medicinal mushroom expert Paul Stamets also lists the following areas where research has shown Coriolus versicolor extract to have a beneficial effect: Kidney tonic; uterine cancer. [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. Never use any herb (or mushroom) except as advised by a licensed medical practitioner.
Credits: Thank you, Paul Stamets, for research references.
