Trametes versicolor, also known as Coriolus versicolor or Turkey Tail, is a widespread forest mushroom that grows on dead hardwoods. Its characteristic flat, multi-layered caps display a range of colors including brown, gray, white, and bluish-gray. The mushroom is tough and fibrous, making it primarily used in dietary supplements and traditional medicine, while its culinary use is less common.
Bioactive Compounds
Turkey Tail contains numerous bioactive compounds, the most studied of which include:
- Polysaccharides, mainly polysaccharide-K (PSK) and polysaccharide-peptide (PSP), classified as beta-glucans and shown to influence immune system activity,
- Phenolic compounds, such as quercetin and baicalein, which act as antioxidants and contribute to cellular protection against oxidative stress,
- Amino acids, vitamins, and fatty acids, supporting overall health and well-being,
- Triterpenes and polyphenols, which exhibit anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties.
Traditional Use
In traditional Chinese medicine, Trametes versicolor has been used for centuries in teas and powders. It is especially valued as a mushroom for supporting immunity and general vitality, often in combination with other medicinal plants.
Research
Turkey Tail is one of the most extensively studied medicinal mushrooms. Numerous scientific studies have investigated the antitumor activity of two polysaccharide–protein complexes, known as PSK and PSP.
PSK was the first mushroom-derived drug to be registered, and it is primarily used in Japan for the treatment of various types of cancer, recognized as one of the most widely acknowledged therapeutic agents for this purpose.
Research results indicate that these compounds can influence immune system function, particularly affecting lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, and macrophages. Their impact on the body’s immune response and cellular protection against oxidative stress is also under investigation.
Modern Use
Today, Turkey Tail is mainly used in dietary supplements—available as powders, capsules, and tinctures. It is valued for combining a long tradition of use with modern research that confirms its immunomodulatory properties. Due to its tough and fibrous texture, it is rarely used in culinary applications but is popular as an additive in extracts and herbal preparations.
Research Sources and Further Insights:
- Pohleven, J., Korošec, T., Gregorij, A. (2013). Zdravilne gobe. Ljubljana: Društvo za zdravilne gobe.
- Wasser, S.P. (2010). Medicinal mushroom science: Current perspectives. Biomedical Journal, 3(1), 31–40.
- Ng, T.B., et al. (2004). Biological activities of proteins from Trametes versicolor. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, 6(3), 291–302.
- Kidd, P. (2000). The use of mushroom glucans and proteoglycans incancer treatment. Alternative Medicine Review, 5(1), 4–27.
- Ajibola, O.O., et al. (2024). Turkey tail mushroom (Trametes versicolor): an edible and medicinal macrofungus. Povezava
- Kıvrak, I., et al. (2020). Assessment of Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Potential of Trametes versicolor. Povezava
- Camilleri, E., et al. (2024). A comprehensive review on the health benefits of Trametes versicolor. Povezava
- Habtemariam, S. (2020). Trametes versicolor (Synn. Coriolus versicolor): A review of its medicinal properties. PubMed Central. Povezava
- Angelova, G., et al. (2022). Bioactivity of Biomass and Crude Exopolysaccharides Obtained by Controlled Submerged Cultivation of Medicinal Mushroom Trametes versicolor.
