Turkey Tail
Botanical names: Trametes versicolor, Coriolus versicolor
Avoiding oxidative stress and supporting a healthy, balanced immune system are two of the most important contributors to a healthy body, especially as one ages. 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 mushroom, giving it powerful immunomodulatory effects. For forty years it has also been known to have anti-tumor effects, and is used in Asia as an adjunct to chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer, to enhance potency and mitigate side effects (it is not used as a chemotherapy agent by itself). It 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, et al. Bioactives from Mushroom: Health Attributes and Food
Industry Applications. Materials (2021), V14, p 7640.
Specific Benefits
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 many different kinds of stress that we encounter, including physical, psychological, or toxic 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.
Immune System regulation; Anti inflammatory
Turkey tail contains one of the highest amounts of beta-glucans of any functional mushroom. Beta-glucans have robust immunomodulatory effects, helping to restore balanced function to the immune response. Beta-glucans help strengthen, balance, support and regulate the immune system, optimizing the immune response to fit the current need. They can stimulate an increased immune response to promote a more effective reaction for fighting off infections. They can also turn down an overactive iTwo particular beta-glucans in Turkey Tail, Polysaccharide Krestin (PSK) and Polysaccharide Peptide (PSP), have demonstrated unique beneficial effects on immune function and inflammation, in both laboratory and clinical studies. They enhance the activation of certain immune cells, such as 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.Turkey Tail supplementation is a safe way to heighten the immune response in people with weakened immunity.
Saleh, et al. Immunomodulatory Properties of Coriolus versicolor: the Role of Polysaccharopeptide. Frontiers Immunol. 2017 Sep 6;8:1087.
Kim et al. Stimulatory Effect of Beta-glucans on Immune Cells. Immune Network Volume 11 Number 4 August 2011
Vetter et al. The Mushroom Glucans: Molecules of High Biological and
Medicinal Importance. Foods 2023, 12, 1009
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, 9063;
Antioxidant
The antioxidant activity of Turkey Tail mushrooms reduces 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
Anti-Cancer effects: Polysaccharide K (PSK) and Polysaccharopeptide P (PSP)
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. It also has 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 benefit over placebo when added to conventional cancer care.
A systematic review of 13 clinical trials of Turkey Tail in breast, gastric and colorectal cancer concluded that Turkey Tail supplementation results 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
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 50 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.
S. Habtemariam, et al. Trametes versicolor Polysaccharides in Cancer Therapy: Targets and Efficacy. Biomedicines, 2020, Vol 8, Issue 5.
Winder et al. The use of Hericium erinaceus and Trametes versicolor extracts in supporting treatment in oncology. Acta Pharm. 71 (2021) 1–16 https://doi.org/10.2478/acph-2021-0007
Fisher et al. Anticancer effects and mechanism of polysaccharide K : implications of cancer immunotherapy. Anticancer Res 2002 May-Jun; 22(13): 1737-54.
Standish, et al. Trametes Versicolor Immune Therapy in Breast Cancer. J Soc Integr Oncol. 2008 Summer; 6(3): 122–128.
Antimicrobial
Turkey Tail mushrooms possess natural 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, et al, Beta glucans from Trametes versicolor is effective for prevention of Influenza virus infection.Viruses. 2022 Jan 25;14(2):237.
Physical Strength and Stamina
Animal studies have found that turkey tail polysaccharide peptide (PSP) may enhance pain thresholds and have anti-fatigue activity.
In one study, mice fed turkey tail extracts had greater forelimb grip strength and higher exercise tolerance than those that were not . This has yet to be replicated in humans.
This may be due to the polyphenol quercetin, abundant in Turkey Tail. Quercetin is in the flavanoid group of polyphenols. It's 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.