Coriolus

Synonym(s): biological response modifier, Trametes verscicolor, Coriolus versicolor, Polysaccharide PSK, Polysaccharide PSP, turkey tail

Nutrient group: medicinal mushrooms, immunomodulators

Sources and physiological effects

Dietary sources
The butterfly tramete (Coriolus versicolor) is a medicinal mushroom used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which is native all over the world. Coriolus versicolor is not suitable as an edible mushroom due to its thin leathery fruiting body.
Physiological effects
Immunomodulation	Activation of lymphocytes, leukocytes, macrophages and natural killer cells by polysaccharides PSK and PSP Inhibition of cancer cell proliferation
Antioxidant	Scavenger

Detailed information

Medicinal mushroom used in TCM

The turkey tail, with its fan-shaped fruiting bodies, can be found growing wild in deciduous and coniferous forests worldwide. Under the name Coriolus (Coriolus versicolor) or Yun Zhi it is used as a medicinal mushroom of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In this ancient medicine, Coriolus versicolor has been used for the care and maintenance of health, for general strengthening and for the promotion of a long life. Due to its health-promoting properties, which have been verified by modern methods, Coriolus is increasingly being used in mycotherapy as a vital mushroom for prevention and treatment. At present, the focus of application lies in the oncological field and in the modulation of the body's own immune defense (1).

Bioactive components of Coriolus

Coriolus versicolor contains a wide range of substances, including various proteins, peptides, amino acids, purpurins and terpenes. In in vitro and in vivo studies, the two protein-bound polysaccharides PSP and PSK, which differ in their monosaccharides and are regarded as biological response modifiers, were identified as primary biological substances. In addition to the immunomodulating effect, studies have also described antioxidant, antidiabetic, antiviral, antimicrobial and tumor-inhibiting effects for  Coriolus versicolor (1)-(5)

Activation of the immune system

The body's immune system plays a central role in maintaining human health. Its functions include the defense against pathogenic microorganisms, the control of mutated cells (tumor surveillance), detoxification of harmful substances and involvement in tissue regeneration. Study results suggest that the PSPs (polysaccharide peptides) contained in  Coriolus versicolor activate lymphocytes, macrophages and natural killer cells (1)(4). Immunomodulation by  Coriolus  was observed in both healthy individuals and patients (1). In a clinical study, the number of natural killer cells was doubled by 8 weeks of  Coriolus  supplementation (6). In East Asia,  Coriolus  is traditionally used against bacterial and viral diseases (herpes, flu-like infections) and yeast infections.

Coriolus in complementary cancer therapy

Coriolus versicolor has been shown to have several anticarcinogenic effects in in vitro and in vivo studies. In addition to tumor-related immune defense, which appears to be an essential mechanism of action in adjuvant cancer therapy,  Coriolus  inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells and induces tumor cell apoptosis (7)-(9). In particular, cytostatic and cytotoxic properties on leukemia cells are well documented (10)(11). Figure 1 shows a summary of the molecular anticarcinogenic mechanisms of action of PSP. Research has documented considerable immunomodulatory effects of the polysaccharide. PSP increases the activity of the natural killer cells and activates macrophages, T- and B-lymphocytes, which in turn promote the formation of antibodies and activate the complement system. In addition, PSP can counteract the tumor-related decline in immune cell function and induce the synthesis of cytokines - such as IL-β, IL-6 and TNF-α -, eicosanoids including PGE2, histamine, reactive oxygen species and nitrogen mediators. At the same time, inhibition of cancer cell proliferation was observed in both in vitro and in vivo studies (4).  Coriolus  was confirmed as a complementary instrument for oncology in a meta-analysis. The administration of  Coriolus  led to a survival advantage for cancer patients - especially in breast, stomach and colorectal cancer (12). In another clinical study using the Coriolus compound PSP, worsening of the health status of patients with lung cancer was slowed significantly (13).

For monitoring and reduction of side effects cancer treatment

Coriolus versicolor can reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, especially immune cell suppression. In colorectal cancer patients, the combination of PSP with the chemotherapeutic agent XELOX mitigated drug-induced side effects and enabled patients to tolerate further chemotherapy, improved their quality of life and prolonged survival (4). In nasopharyngeal carcinoma, adjuvant administration of the fungus significantly reduced radiotherapy-induced lymphocytopenia (14). In patients with breast cancer, supplementation improved discomfort and chronic fatigue (15). In animal studies and cell cultures an enhancement of the cytotoxic and cytostatic effects of cyclophosphamides by combination with PSP contained in  Coriolus  was also observed (16).

Liver protection against drug-induced oxidative stress

In traditional Chinese medicine, the herbal mixture Jian-Gan-Bao is used for the complementary and alternative treatment of liver diseases. In addition to Salvia miltiorrhiza (red root sage) and Schisandra chinensis (Chinese split basket), it also contains  Coriolus versicolor (17). Initial studies have shown that Coriolus has a certain hepatoprotective effect. Therefore, Coriolus PSPs can alleviate the hepatotoxic side effects of certain drugs through their antioxidant action. In addition, PSPs in animal studies improved the GSSG/GSH status of hepatocytes and thus increased the redox potential (18).

Indications

Effect	Indication	Dosage
Physiological effects at a low intake	For preventive use in times of increased risk of disease	500 – 1500 mg/d
	To strengthen a weakened immune response and in case of immune dysfunctions	500 – 1500 mg/d
	Traditional remedy against bacterial and viral diseases as well as yeast infections (herpes, Candida etc.)	500 – 1500 mg/d
	Prevention and therapy in case of cancer	500 – 1500 mg/d

Administration

General mode of administration
When	The medicinal mushroom Coriolus should be taken between meals.
Side effects
No side effects are known to date
Contraindications
To the best of our current knowledge, no relevant contraindications are known. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult a doctor.

Interactions

Drug interactions
None	No interactions are known to date.
Nutrient interactions
None	No interactions are known to date.

References

Referenzen

(1) Saleh, M. H. et al. 2017. Immunomodulatory Properties of Coriolus versicolor: The Role of Polysaccharopeptide. Front Immunol. 8:1087.
(2) Sun, X. W. et al 2014. Screening and comparison of antioxidant activities of polysaccharides from Coriolus versicolor. Int J Biol Macromol.69:12–9.
(3) Xian, H. M. et al. 2018. Coriolus versicolor aqueous extract ameliorates insulin resistance with PI3K/Akt and p38 MAPK signaling pathways involved in diabetic skeletal muscle. Phytother Res. 32(3):551–60.
(4) Chang, Y. et al. 2017. Preclinical and clinical studies of Coriolus versicolor polysaccaropeptide as an immunotherapeutic in China. Discov Med. 23(127):207–19.
(5) Awadasseid, A. et al. 2017. Purification, characterization, and antitumor activity of a novel glucan from the fruiting bodies of Coriolus Versicolor. PLoS One. 12(2):e0171270.
(6) Monro, J. A. 2003. Treatment of cancer with mushroom products. Arch Environ Health. 58(8):533–7.
(7) Ho, C. Y. et al. 2006. Coriolus versicolor (Yunzhi) extract attenuates growth of human leucemia xenografts and induces apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. Oncol Rep. 16(3):609–16.
(8) Lau, C. B. et al. 2004. Cytotoxic activities of Coriolus versicolor (Yunzhi) extract on human leukaemia and lymphoma cells by induction of apoptosis. Life Sci. 75(7):797–808.
(9) Jiménez-Medina, E. et al. 2004. 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.
(10) Hirahara, N. et al. 2011. Protein-bound polysaccharide-K (PSK) induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation of promyelomonocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. Anticancer Res. 31(9):2733–8.
(11) Hsieh, T. C. et al. 2002. Effects of extracts of Coriolus versicolor (I'm-Yunity) on cell-cycle progression and expression of interleukins-1 beta,-6, and -8 in promyelocytic HL-60 leukemic cells and mitogenically stimulated and nonstimulated human lymphocytes. J Altern Complement Med. 8(5):591–602.
(12) Eliza, W. et al. 2012. Efficacy of Yun Zhi (Coriolus versicolor) on survival in cancer patients: systematic review and meta-analysis. Recent Pat Inflamm Allergy Drug Discov. 6(1):78–87.
(13) Tsang, K. W. et al. 2003. Coriolus versicolor polysaccharide peptide slows progression of advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Respir Med. 97(6):618–24.
(14) Bao, Y. X. et al. 2006. Clinical studies of immunomodulatory activities of Yunzhi-Danshen in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. J Altern Complement Med. 12(8):771–6.
(15) Wong, C. K. et al. 2005. Immunomodulatory activities of Yunzhi and Danshen in post-treatment breast cancer patients. Am J Chin Med. 33(3):381–95.
(16) Chan, S. L. 2006. Effects of polysaccharide peptide (PSP) from Coriolus versicolor on the pharmacokinetics of cyclophosphamide in the rat and cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells. Food Chem Toxicol. 44(5):689–94.
(17) Li, S. et al. 2018. Hepatoprotective Effects of a Functional Formula of Three Chinese Medicinal Herbs: Experimental Evidence and Network Pharmacology-Based Identification of Mechanism of Action and Potential Bioactive Components. Molecules. doi: 10.3390/molecules23020352.
(18) Yeung, J. H. 1994. Effect of polysaccharide peptide (PSP) on glutathione and protection against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in rat. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol. 16(10):723–9.

Referenzen zu Interaktionen
Stargrove, M. B. et al. 2008. Herb, Nutrient and Drug Interactions: Clinical Implications and Therapeutic Strategies. Mosby-Verlag, 1. Auflage.
Gröber, U. 2011. Mikronährstoffe: Metabolic Tuning – Prävention – Therapie. Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Stuttgart, 3. Auflage.
Gröber, U. 2014. Arzneimittel und Mikronährstoffe: Medikationsorientierte Supplementierung. Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Stuttgart, 4. Auflage.