Turkey Tail
Botanical names: Trametes versicolor, Coriolus versicolor
Two of the most important contributors to a healthy body are low oxidative stress and a healthy, balanced immune system. Turkey Tail helps us achieve both goals. Also known by its botanical names Trametes versicolor and Coriolus versicolor, it gets its name from its flat, fan-shaped, multicolored rings that resemble a turkey’s tail. Its Chinese name, yún zhī, translates to “cloud fungus”, and its Japanese name, kawaratake, means “mushroom by the riverbank”. Traditional medicine practitioners, particularly in Asia, have used turkey tail for centuries to provide health and long life benefits if consumed regularly.
Turkey Tail contains one of the highest levels of beta glucans of any functional mushroom, giving it powerful immunomodulatory effects. For forty years it has also been known to have anti-tumor effects. Compounds extracted from Turkey Tail are used widely in Asia as chemotherapy adjuncts in the treatment of cancer, where they enhance treatment potency and mitigate side effects. (It is not used as a chemotherapy agent by itself). It also promotes gastrointestinal health through its effects on the gut microbiome, which in turn promotes overall health.
Studies show that Turkey Tail:
- Strengthens and supports a healthy and balanced immune system
- Has potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects
- Is an adaptogen, supporting stress tolerance, and enhancing physical and mental endurance
Studies and Reviews: Turkey Tail, General Effects
Lysakowska et al. Medicinal Mushrooms: Their Bioactive Components, Nutritional Value and Application in Functional Food Production—A Review. Molecules (2023), 28, 5393
Bains A, Chawla P, Kaur S, Najda A, Fogarasi M, Fogarasi S. Bioactives from Mushroom: Health Attributes and Food Industry Applications. Materials (Basel). 2021 Dec 11;14(24):7640. doi: 10.3390/ma14247640. PMID: 34947237; PMCID: PMC8706457.
Specific Benefits
Immune System regulation; Anti inflammatory
Turkey tail contains very high amounts of beta-glucans. Beta-glucans have robust immunomodulatory effects, working to restore balanced function to the immune response. They help strengthen, balance, support and regulate the immune system, optimizing the immune response to fit the current need.
Beta-glucans help stimulate an increased immune response to promote a more effective reaction for fighting off infections and other diseases. They can also in certain situations turn down an overactive immune system when inflammation is too active. Turkey Tail supplementation is a safe way to strengthen the immune response in people with weakened immunity.
Beta-glucans in Turkey Tail have demonstrated unique effects on immune function and inflammation, in both laboratory and clinical studies. They enhance the activation of certain immune cells called lymphocytes and macrophages to promote and strengthen the immune response. This can be especially important when immune function is weakened by diseases or certain medical treatments.
Benson KF, Stamets P, Davis R, Nally R, Taylor A, Slater S, Jensen GS. The mycelium of the Trametes versicolor (Turkey tail) mushroom and its fermented substrate each show potent and complementary immune activating properties in vitro. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019 Dec 2;19(1):342. doi: 10.1186/s12906-019-2681-7. PMID: 31791317; PMCID: PMC6889544.
Saleh MH, Rashedi I, Keating A. Immunomodulatory Properties of Coriolus versicolor: The Role of Polysaccharopeptide. Front Immunol. 2017 Sep 6;8:1087. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01087. PMID: 28932226; PMCID: PMC5592279.
Kim HS, Hong JT, Kim Y, Han SB. Stimulatory Effect of β-glucans on Immune Cells. Immune Netw. 2011 Aug;11(4):191-5. doi: 10.4110/in.2011.11.4.191. Epub 2011 Aug 31. PMID: 22039366; PMCID: PMC3202617.
Vetter J. The Mushroom Glucans: Molecules of High Biological and Medicinal Importance. Foods. 2023 Feb 27;12(5):1009. doi: 10.3390/foods12051009. PMID: 36900525; PMCID: PMC10000499
Jedrzejewski, et al. Extract from the Coriolus versicolor Fungus as an Anti-Inflammatory Agent with Cytotoxic Properties against Endothelial Cells and Breast Cancer Cells. Int. Jl. Molecular. Sciences. 2020, 21, 906
Anti-Cancer Effects
Medicinal mushrooms have emerged in recent years not only as a source of drugs but also as adjuvants (additional treatments) to conventional chemo- or radiation therapy, to either enhance their potency or reduce their side effects. Extracts of Turkey Tail have In have been shown in laboratory studies to prevent the growth of numerous tumor cell types, including breast cancer and melanoma cells. They also have the ability to enhance the immune response against cancer cells. Turkey tail extracts, or compounds isolated from turkey tail, do not take the place of conventional treatments for cancer, but show numerous benefits over placebo when added to conventional cancer care.
Winder M, Bulska-Będkowska W, Chudek J. The use of Hericium erinaceus and Trametes versicolor extracts in supportive treatment in oncology. Acta Pharm. 2021 Mar 1;71(1):1-16. doi: 10.2478/acph-2021-0007. PMID: 32697746.
For example, a review of thirteen clinical trials of Turkey Tail in breast, gastric and colorectal cancer concluded that Turkey Tail supplementation resulted in a significant survival advantage when compared to standard conventional anti-cancer treatment alone. They found a 9% reduction in 5 year mortality rate for patients treated with Turkey Tail alongside conventional treatment for carcinoma and leukemia.
Wong et al Efficay of Yun Zhi ( Coriolus versicolor) on survival in cancer patients: systematic review and meta-analysis. Recent Pat Inflamm Allergy Drug Discov 2012 Jan;6(1):78-87
Torkelson CJ, Sweet E, Martzen MR, Sasagawa M, Wenner CA, Gay J, Putiri A, Standish LJ. Phase 1 Clinical Trial of Trametes versicolor in Women with Breast Cancer. ISRN Oncol. 2012;2012:251632. doi: 10.5402/2012/251632. Epub 2012 May 30. PMID: 22701186; PMCID: PMC3369477.
Polysaccharide K (PSK) and Polysaccharopeptide P (PSP)
Two beta glucans isolated from Turkey tail have been pharmacologic products in Asia for over thirty years. Polysaccharide K (PSK) is an immunostimulatory beta-glucan isolated from Turkey Tail. It has been approved in China and Japan for use as an adjunctive therapy for cancer under the brand name Krestin. Polysaccharopeptide P (PSP) is another beta-glucan isolated from Turkey Tail; it has been the subject of over fifty studies demonstrating its anti-tumor benefits. Both PSK and PSP are particularly known for their direct anti-cancer and immunostimulatory effects. They are well tolerated with significant side effects.
PDQ Integrative, Alternative, and Complementary Therapies Editorial Board. Medicinal Mushrooms (PDQ®): Health Professional Version. 2024 Nov 6. In: PDQ Cancer Information Summaries [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Cancer Institute (US); 2002–. PMID: 27929633.
PDQ Integrative, Alternative, and Complementary Therapies Editorial Board. Medicinal Mushrooms (PDQ®): Patient Version. 2024 Jul 11. In: PDQ Cancer Information Summaries [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Cancer Institute (US); 2002–. PMID: 28267306.
Habtemariam S. Trametes versicolor (Synn. Coriolus versicolor) Polysaccharides in Cancer Therapy: Targets and Efficacy. Biomedicines. 2020 May 25;8(5):135. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines8050135. PMID: 32466253; PMCID: PMC7277906.
Fisher M, Yang LX. Anticancer effects and mechanisms of polysaccharide-K (PSK): implications of cancer immunotherapy. Anticancer Res. 2002 May-Jun;22(3):1737-54. PMID: 12168863 (abstract only)
Standish, et al. Trametes Versicolor Immune Therapy in Breast Cancer. J Soc Integr Oncol. 2008 Summer; 6(3): 122–128.
He Z, Lin J, He Y, Liu S. Polysaccharide-Peptide from Trametes versicolor: The Potential Medicine for Colorectal Cancer Treatment. Biomedicines. 2022 Nov 7;10(11):2841. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines10112841. PMID: 36359361; PMCID: PMC9687461.
Anti-oxidant
Turkey Tail mushrooms contain several potent anti-oxidants. They reduce oxidative stress by preventing damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are produced naturally as byproducts of metabolism, and are usually neutralized by antioxidants in the body. Oxidative stress results when there is an excess of free radicals, and too few antioxidants. At higher levels, free radicals cause damage to important molecules in the body, especially DNA, which houses our genetic code. This impairs cell regeneration and repair, leading to accelerated aging and the development of certain diseases over time .The gradual build-up of free radicals appears to play a role in both aging and the development of chronic diseases like cancer and arthritis. Anti-oxidants contribute to healthier cells and tissues and help to prevent or mitigate the effect of chronic diseases.
B. Halliwell et al. Ageing, nutrition, disease, and therapy: a role for antioxidants, Free radicals in Biology and Medicine, 2015, pp.639-696.
Dubois-Dery, et al. Oxidative Stress in Cardiovascular Diseases. Antioxidants (Basel). 2020 Sep; 9(9): 864
Adaptogenic
Chronic or prolonged stress can negatively affect many of our body’s systems negatively. Like other functional mushrooms, turkey tail mushrooms contain adaptogens, special molecules that help the body increase resiliency and adapt to the many different kinds of stress that we encounter, from physical and toxic stress to, psychological or emotional stress. Adaptogens interact with the neuroendocrine system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to help stabilize stress hormone levels like cortisol under stress, and assist the body in reaching balance again.
Antimicrobial
Turkey Tail mushrooms possess direct antimicrobial properties that can help the body fight off infections and harmful microorganisms. They may contribute to a stronger defense against both bacteria and viruses..
Shi S, Yin L, Shen X, Dai Y, Wang J, Yin D, Zhang D, Pan X. β-Glucans from Trametes versicolor (L.) Lloyd Is Effective for Prevention of Influenza Virus Infection. Viruses. 2022 Jan 25;14(2):237. doi: 10.3390/v14020237. PMID: 35215831; PMCID: PMC8880503
Physical Strength and Stamina
Animal studies have found that turkey tail polysaccharide peptide (PSP) may enhance pain thresholds and have anti-fatigue activity.
This may be due to the polyphenol quercetin, abundant in Turkey Tail. Quercetin has been linked to improved exercise performance and reduced inflammation, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. Though its benefits seem promising, more human research is needed.