Turkey Tail Mushrooms: Medicinal Benefits

Trametes versicolor, also called Turkey Tail mushroom, is a potent medicinal mushroom that displays multiple colors that resemble a turkey’s tail, hence its given name. Turkey tail mushrooms usually grow on fallen trees and are found across the globe. They possess many health benefits which are attributed to the abundance of antioxidants found in them.

Possess Antioxidant Properties

Ever wonder why you age? How your skin dulls with age? Well, the full answer is complicated, but one key factor is oxidative damage to the cells. Free radicals are molecules that react with cellular contents, thus damaging their ability to survive and divide. These free radicals are called oxidants, and it’s antioxidant compounds that nullify their negative effects. Foods with higher levels of antioxidants keep your cells healthy. As the survival ability of your tissues and cells decreases, so does the aging process on a cellular level. Hence, most researchers say that antioxidants and anti-aging go hand in hand.

Turkey Tail mushrooms are rich in antioxidants such as phenols and flavonoids that can protect against oxidative stress. They also protect your body against chronic inflammation which is a precursor of many diseases, including heart disease, brain disorders, and cancer. One study found a total of 38 antioxidant compounds in Turkey Tail extract. The same study also mentions that Turkey Tail mushroom is a great natural source of antioxidants and could be beneficial in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease[2].

Immune Boosting Potential

Another promising benefit of Turkey Tail mushroom is its immune-boosting effect. That is why it is often marketed with claims of being an immune booster. Two key compounds identified in turkey tail mushrooms are krestin (PSK) and polysaccharide peptide (PSP) which have potential immune-boosting effects. They not only boost the production of immune cells but also limit inflammation in the body which otherwise can be a a precusor for chronic illness.

Anticancer Effects

A review published in Integrative Medicine Journal has highlighted that Turkey Tail mushroom is useful in fighting cancer[3]. Turkey Tail contains a compound called Polysaccharide K (PSK) which has been shown to suppress the growth of cancer cells, especially in colon cancer[4].

Studies have shown the anti-tumor activity of Turkey Tail mushrooms in animal models. One study conducted on mice found Turkey Tail to have a probable anti-tumor effect. The results indicated that 45.5 and 90.9 mg per pound of bodyweight of extract of Turkey Tail mushrooms daily significantly reduced tumor size[5]. Another study on dogs suffering from hemangiosarcoma — cancer of blood vessels walls — reported that daily supplementation of Turkey Tail mushroom extract increased their survival time[6].

This makes it an excellent candidate for complementary cancer treatment. However, the enhanced benefits of this mushroom are evident when used in combination with other anticancer therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation.

Improvement In Gut Health

Gut health has been the center of treatment in traditional Asian herbal medicines for centuries, and the concept is now coming more to light in Western countries. The health of your gut is now being linked with other body functions, and the concept of the gut-brain axis (GBA) is becoming more widely known. This is leading the research into gut microbiome health — the total number of microorganisms found in your gut — along with probiotics and prebiotics. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that when introduced into your body impart beneficial effects. Prebiotics are what the probiotics feed on. Turkey Tail provides the body with prebiotics that help maintain the gut microbiome and overall gut health. A study published in the journal Gut Microbes has reported that polysaccharopeptide from Turkey Tail mushrooms have prebiotic properties that help maintain gut health[7].

Conclusion

From its abundance of antioxidants to its immune-boosting properties, Turkey Tail mushroom is an excellent choice if you’re focusing on adopting a healthier lifestyle. You can supplement this mushroom in your favorite recipes in place of chicken or turkey. Turkey Tail mushroom will give you an abundance of antioxidants that can help control cell damage throughout your body, and prebiotics to help support gut and overall health.

[1] A review of mushrooms in human nutrition and health sciencedirect.com

[2] The lignicolous fungus Trametes versicolor (L.) Lloyd (1920): a promising natural source of antiradical and AChE inhibitory agents ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[3] Immune Modulation From Five Major Mushrooms: Application to Integrative Oncology ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[4] Polysaccharide K suppresses angiogenesis in colon cancer cells ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[5] Purification, characterization, and antitumor activity of a novel glucan from the fruiting bodies of Coriolus Versicolor ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[6] Single Agent Polysaccharopeptide Delays Metastases and Improves Survival in Naturally Occurring Hemangiosarcoma ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[7] Effects of polysaccharopeptide from Trametes Versicolor and amoxicillin on the gut microbiome of healthy volunteers Gut Microbes