Trametes versicolor
| Trametes versicolor | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Polyporales |
| Family: | Polyporaceae |
| Genus: | Trametes |
| Species: | T. versicolor
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| Binomial name | |
| Trametes versicolor | |
| Synonyms | |
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Boletus versicolor L. (1753) | |
Trametes versicolor | |
|---|---|
 | Pores on hymenium |
 | Cap is offset or indistinct |
 | Hymenium is decurrent |
 | Lacks a stipe |
 | Spore print is white to yellow |
 | Ecology is saprotrophic |
 | Edibility is too hard to eat |
Trametes versicolor – also known as Coriolus versicolor and Polyporus versicolor – is a common polypore mushroom found throughout the world. Meaning 'of several colors', versicolor accurately describes this fungus that displays a unique blend of markings. Additionally, owing to its shape being similar to that of a wild turkey's tail feathers, T. versicolor is most commonly referred to as turkey tail.[1] A similar-looking mushroom commonly called "false turkey tail" is from a different order (Stereum), and thus may sometimes be confused with the 'true' turkey tail mushroom, T. versicolor. Another lookalike is the multicolor gill polypore, T. betulina.[2]
Description and ecology
[edit]The bottom surface of the cap shows typical concentric zones of different colors, and the margin is always the lightest.[2] Underneath a layer of tomentum is a black layer, topping the whitish flesh.[3] The flesh itself is 1–3 mm thick and has a leathery texture. Older specimens, such as the one pictured, can have zones with green algae growing on them, thus appearing green. It commonly grows in tiled layers in groups or rows on logs and stumps of deciduous trees.[2] The mushroom is stalkless and the cap is rust-brown or darker brown, sometimes with black zones. The cap is flat, up to 8 × 5 × 0.5–1 cm in area. It is often triangular or round, with zones of fine hairs. The pore surface is whitish to light brown, with pores round and with age twisted and labyrinthine. 3–8 pores per millimeter.
T. versicolor is a white-rot fungus which degrades lignin from lignocellulosic materials, such as wood.[4] It may be eaten by caterpillars of the fungus moth Nemaxera betulinella, maggots of the Platypezid fly Polyporivora picta,[5] and the fungus gnat Mycetophila luctuosa.[6] It is considered inedible due to its leathery texture, but can be prepared in many ways, such as teas, powders, etc., to allow for it to be consumed. Consuming Trametes versicolor has been most notably practiced in China for thousands of years under the name "Yunzhi" (Chinese: 云芝).[7][8][9][10][11]
Similar species
[edit]Similar species include Trametes hirsuta,[8] T. ochracea,[3] T. suaveolens, Bjerkandera adusta,[8] Cerrena unicolor,[3] Lenzites betulina, and Stereum hirsutum.[8] Other species of Stereum are similar, typically with a smooth undersurface, as well as some species of Trichaptum.[3]
T. Versicolor Extracts (PSK and PSP)
[edit]Immunomodulatory Effects
Trametes versicolor, has been widely studied for its immunomodulatory effects in humans. Recent research has primarily focused on two protein-bound polysaccharides extracted from the mushroom’s mycelia: polysaccharide Krestin (PSK) and polysaccharide peptide (PSP). These compounds are classified as biological response modifiers, meaning they enhance the body’s immune system rather than directly killing pathogens or cancer cells. Studies suggest that PSK and PSP boost immune responses by activating key immune cells and promoting signaling pathways.
Mechanism of Action
PSK and PSP interact with pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) located on immune cells such as macrophages, dendritic cells, and natural killer cells. These receptors recognize β-glucans and other complex polysaccharides present in the compounds. Binding to receptors like Toll-like receptors (TLRs) triggers intracellular signaling pathways, resulting in the upregulation of genes involved in inflammation and immune responses.
Activation and Maturation of Dendritic Cells
Dendritic cells (DCs) are specialized immune cells that serve as messengers between the innate and adaptive immune systems. PSK has been shown to activate these cells by binding to surface receptors and initiating their maturation. Mature DCs express higher levels of antigen-presenting molecules, such as MHC class I and II, as well as co-stimulatory molecules like CD80 and CD86, enabling more effective communication with T cells. They also secrete cytokines that induce the differentiation of T cells into T helper 1 (TH1) cells, which produce signaling molecules that enhance the pathogen-killing efficiency of other immune cells. A study using mouse DCs demonstrated that PSK treatment promoted maturation and improved the immune system’s ability to distinguish harmful threats from self-antigens.
Clinical Applications in Cancer Therapy
PSK has been used as an adjunct to chemotherapy in cancer treatment, particularly for gastric, colorectal, and breast cancers. It has been associated with improved survival rates and reduced tumor recurrence. Randomized controlled trials conducted in Japan have shown that patients with stage II and III colorectal cancer who received both PSK and chemotherapy experienced higher five-year survival rates compared to those treated with chemotherapy alone.
Potential Side Effects
PSK and PSP are generally well tolerated, even when used over extended periods. However, some individuals may experience mild side effects such as nausea, rash, or constipation. Less common but more serious effects may include low blood pressure, low white blood cell count, and allergic reactions.
Regulatory Status
The regulatory approval of PSK and PSP varies by region. In Japan, PSK is approved as a prescription drug and is incorporated into standard cancer care. In China, both PSK and PSP are used in traditional and integrative medical treatments.
The United States and the European Union has not approved PSK and PSP as pharmaceutical drugs and are only available as dietary supplements.
In 2020, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued warning letters to two manufacturers for advertising misbranded T. versicolor PSK supplements as anti-cancer or immune therapy drugs, stating such products "are not generally recognized as safe and effective for the above referenced uses and, therefore, these products are 'new drugs' under section 201(p) of the FD&C Act, 21 U.S.C. 321(p). New drugs may not be legally introduced or delivered for introduction into interstate commerce without prior approval from the FDA."[12][13]
Trametes versicolor may be used in traditional Chinese medicine or other herbalism practices.[14][15]
Gallery
[edit]-
T. versicolor covering a stump -
Close up of T. versicolor. -
Color variation of T. versicolor on the same tree stump -
Pale specimens -
Brown variety -
Pale and brown varieties side by side -
Brown variety in higher magnification -
T. versicolor, pale variety
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See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Sisson, Liv; Vigus, Paula (2023). Fungi of Aotearoa: a curious forager's field guide. Auckland, New Zealand: Penguin Books. p. 266. ISBN 978-1-76104-787-9. OCLC 1372569849.
- ^ a b c "Turkey Tail". MDC Discover Nature. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ a b c d Trudell, Steve; Ammirati, Joe (2009). Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest. Timber Press Field Guides. Portland, OR: Timber Press. p. 264. ISBN 978-0-88192-935-5.
- ^ S., Pointing (1 October 2001). "Feasibility of bioremediation by white-rot fungi". Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 57 (1–2): 20–33. doi:10.1007/s002530100745. ISSN 0175-7598. PMID 11693920. S2CID 33607687.
- ^ Chandler, Peter J. (2001), The Flat-footed flies (Opetiidae and Platypezidae) of Europe, Fauna Entomologica Scandinavica, vol. 36, Leiden: Brill, pp. 1–278, ISBN 90-04-12023-8
- ^ Jakovlev, Jevgeni (2011), "Fungus gnats (Diptera: Sciaroidea) associated with dead wood and wood growing fungi: New rearing data from Finland and Russian Karelia and general analysis of known larval microhabitats in Europe", Entomologica Fennica, 22 (3), doi:10.33338/ef.4693
- ^ Meuninck, Jim (2017). Foraging Mushrooms Oregon: Finding, Identifying, and Preparing Edible Wild Mushrooms. Falcon Guides. p. 51. ISBN 978-1-4930-2669-2.
- ^ a b c d Davis, R. Michael; Sommer, Robert; Menge, John A. (2012). Field Guide to Mushrooms of Western North America. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 356–357. ISBN 978-0-520-95360-4. OCLC 797915861.
- ^ "Trametes versicolor". midwestmycology.org. 25 June 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ "Medicinal Mushrooms (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version". cancer.gov. 30 November 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ Chen, M.; Wang, C.; Fei, B.; Ma, X.; Zhang, B.; Zhang, S.; Huang, A. (2017). "iological Degradation of Chinese Fir with Trametes Versicolor (L.) Lloyd". Materials. 10 (7): 834. Bibcode:2017Mate...10..834C. doi:10.3390/ma10070834. PMC 5551877. PMID 28773191.
- ^ Steven B Barber (3 November 2020). "Warning letter 609440: Half Hill Farm Inc". US Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ Ronald M Pace (1 December 2020). "Warning letter 610361: Mushroom Revival, Inc". US Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ "Turkey tail and polysaccharide-K. In: Medicinal Mushrooms". National Cancer Institute, US National Institutes of Health. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ Meuninck, Jim (2017). Foraging Mushrooms Oregon: Finding, Identifying, and Preparing Edible Wild Mushrooms. Falcon Guides. p. 52. ISBN 978-1-4930-2669-2.
External links
[edit]
- Trametes versicolor at Mushroom-Collecting.com
| Authority control databases: National |
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