Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor)
Also known as: Trametes versicolor, Coriolus versicolor, Yun Zhi, Kawaratake, PSK, PSP, polysaccharide-K, polysaccharopeptide
Turkey tail is a thin, fan-shaped polypore whose protein-bound polysaccharides (PSK and PSP) have been studied for decades in Japan and China as adjuncts in oncology settings. Consumer products use a hot-water extract of the fruiting body or a mycelium powder standardized to beta-glucans. A 2012 phase 1 dose-escalation trial in women after breast cancer therapy used 3, 6, or 9 grams per day of a Trametes versicolor preparation. It is used in immune and gut-support formulas, and its polysaccharides are also studied as fermentable substrates for gut bacteria.
Research summary
Beta-glucans and protein-bound polysaccharides are studied for activation of innate immune cells via pattern-recognition receptors and for fermentation by gut bacteria.
Dosage
Daily amounts, of extract.
| Lowest studied | Typical range | Highest studied | Upper limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 mg | 1,000–3,000 mg | 9,000 mg | — |
Take 1–3 g of extract daily in divided doses with food. The phase 1 trial tolerated up to 9 g per day for six weeks; typical wellness doses are far lower. Changes in immune-marker studies developed over weeks of continuous use.
Standardization: ≥30% beta-glucans (fruiting-body hot-water extract)
Source material: fruiting body
Format suitability
- Capsule
- Powder
- Tablet
- Softgel
- Gummy
- Liquid
Mild, woody taste; fibrous powder that benefits from fine milling before encapsulation.
Formulation notes
No notable formulation interactions. Fruiting-body extracts carry considerably more beta-glucan per gram than mycelium-on-grain powders; compare on a standardized basis.
Sources
Related ingredients
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Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG)
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Bifidobacterium lactis
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Saccharomyces boulardii
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L-Glutamine
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