Trametes versicolor

Trametes versicolor Scientific classification Kingdom: Fungi Division: Basidiomycota Class: Agaricomycetes Subclass: Agaricomycetidae Order: Polyporales Family: Polyporaceae Genus: Trametes Species: T. versicolor Binomial name Trametes versicolor (L.:Fr.) Quél. Synonyms Coriolus versicolor Polyporus versicolor Trametes versicolor Mycological characteristics pores on hymenium cap is offset or indistinct hymenium is decurrent lacks a stipe spore print is white to yellow ecology is saprotrophic edibility: edible

Trametes versicolor — formerly known as Coriolus versicolor and Polyporus versicolor^{[citation needed]} — 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 (simplified Chinese: 云芝, traditional Chinese: 雲芝). 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 with 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]

Possible medicinal value

Main article: Polysaccharide-K

Polysaccharide-K (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. Otherwise, there is no regulatory approval of this agent for any clinical use in other developed countries.

PSK displays anticancer activity from preliminary laboratory assessments in vitro,^[3] in vivo^[4] and in human clinical trials.^[5] Preliminary research has shown that the PSK might reduce mutagen-induced, radiation-induced, and spontaneously-induced development of experimental cancer cell preparations.^[6] PSK has shown to be beneficial as an adjuvant in the treatment of gastric, esophageal, colorectal, breast and lung cancers.^[7] Preliminary human clinical trials indicate PSK might reduce cancer recurrence when used as an adjuvant^[5][8] and other basic 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 might also inhibit cancer cell proliferation under laboratory conditions.^[12]

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."^[13] At present, however, there are no approved drugs or scientifically verified anti-disease activities resulting from this mushroom.

Gallery

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  Two varieties of T. versicolor on the same tree stump.

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  Pale specimens

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  Close photo of T. versicolor.

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  Close-up showing underside and pores of an older specimen of T. versicolor.

See also

Fungi portal

• Polysaccharide-K
• Polysaccharide Peptide
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Medicinal mushrooms
• Smith JE, Rowan NJ, Sullivan R Medicinal Mushrooms: Their Therapeutic Properties and Current Medical Usage with Special Emphasis on Cancer Treatments Cancer Research UK, 2001
• Mushroom compound suppresses prostate tumors [1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Coriolus Versicolor, 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, PMC 2291471, PMID 18366723, http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=2291471. 
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. Y. (May 2002). "Anticancer effects and mechanisms of polysaccharide-K (PSK): implications of cancer immunotherapy". Anticancer research 22 (3): 1737–1754. 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. ^ "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. 

• "Danske storsvampe. Basidiesvampe" [a key to Danish basidiomycetes] J.H. Petersen and J. Vesterholt eds. Gyldendal. Viborg, Denmark, 1990. ISBN 87-01-09932-9
• "Mycoremediation, fungal bioremediation" [a encyclopedia of fungal bioremediation] Harbhajan Sing. Wiley, 2006. ISBN 978-0-471-75501-2
• Entry of Trametes versicolor at Fungal Databases, Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory Nomenclature Database, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service.

External links

External identifiers for Trametes versicolor
EOL	190215
Also found in: Wikispecies

• Mushroom-Collecting.com – Trametes versicolor
• Funghi Vitalia – Coriolus versicolor
• PSP and PSK
• Information About Herbs, Botanicals and Other Product – Sloan-Kettering