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Review
. 2020 May 25;8(5):135.
doi: 10.3390/biomedicines8050135.

Trametes versicolor (Synn. Coriolus versicolor) Polysaccharides in Cancer Therapy: Targets and Efficacy

Solomon Habtemariam  1
Affiliations
Review

Trametes versicolor (Synn. Coriolus versicolor) Polysaccharides in Cancer Therapy: Targets and Efficacy

Solomon Habtemariam. Biomedicines. .

Abstract

Coriolus versicolor (L.) Quél. is a higher fungi or mushroom which is now known by its accepted scientific name as Trametes versicolor (L.) Lloyd (family Polyporaceae). The polysaccharides, primarily two commercial products from China and Japan as PSP and PSK, respectively, have been claimed to serve as adjuvant therapy for cancer. In this paper, research advances in this field, including direct cytotoxicity in cancer cells and immunostimulatory effects, are scrutinised at three levels: in vitro, in vivo and clinical outcomes. The level of activity in the various cancers, key targets (both in cancer and immune cells) and pharmacological efficacies are discussed.

Keywords: Coriolus versicolor; PSK; PSP; Trametes; adjuvant therapy; cancer; immunostimulation; polysaccharides.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author declares no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Morphological features of Coriolus versicolor. The various morphological features of the fungus grown in the UK are shown. While the upper surface shows concentric zones of colours (red, yellow, green, blue, brown, black, and white), the picture in the lower-right shows the polyporous nature of the underside portion of the fungus. Pictures are a kind gift of first-nature.com (https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/trametes-versicolor.php#distribution).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Terpenoids from C. versicolor.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Anti-cancer potential of C. versivolor polysaccharides.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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