yun zhi 雲芝Coriolus versicolor - potential health benefits

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Trametes versicolor yun zhi 雲芝 Coriolus versicolor (Nees ex
Fr.) Quel. Coriolus zonztus
Polyporus versicolor kawaratake Multicolored polypore ,
Turkey Tails

You can find trametes versicolor almost everywhere over the world.

What are the potential health benefits of yun zhi?

People say, it is a supplement for people at risk of cancer.

There are about 200 species of mushrooms that have been found to markedly inhibit
the growth of different kinds of tumors. Standish LJ and co-workers from Bastyr
University, WA, [ljs@bastyr.edu] wrote, "Data from multiple epidemiologic and clinical
studies on immune effects of conventional cancer treatment and the clinical benefits
of polysaccharide immune therapy suggest that immune function has a role in breast
cancer prevention. Immune therapy utilizing the polysaccharide constituents of
Trametes versicolor as concurrent adjuvant cancer therapy may be warranted as part
of a comprehensive cancer treatment and secondary prevention strategy". [2]

Hsieh TC and Wu JM from New York Medical College demonstrated the potential
health benefits of Trametes versicolor (Coriolus versicolor) on prostate from a cell
study. In the study, ethanolic extracts of Yunzhi reduced LNCaP cell growth and
down-regulated the levels of secreted PSA. [1]

Tsang KW [kwttsang@hku.hk] and co-workers at The University of Hong Kong
conducted a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized study to evaluate the
effects of 28-day administration of polysaccharide peptides on patients, who had
completed conventional treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Among 34 patients, all showed a significant improvement in blood leukocyte and
neutrophil counts, serum IgG and IgM. However, the patients did not improve in
NSCLC-related symptoms. [3]

Reference:

[1] Hsieh TC, Wu JM. Cell growth and gene modulatory activities of Yunzhi (Windsor
Wunxi) from mushroom Trametes versicolor in androgen-dependent and androgen-
insensitive human prostate cancer cells. Int J Oncol. 2001 Jan;18(1):81-8. [2]
Standish LJ, Wenner CA, Sweet ES, Bridge C, Nelson A, Martzen M, Novack J,
Torkelson C. Trametes versicolor mushroom immune therapy in breast cancer. J Soc
Integr Oncol. 2008 Summer;6(3):122-8. [3] Tsang KW, Lam CL, Yan C, Mak JC, Ooi
GC, Ho JC, Lam B, Man R, Sham JS, Lam WK. Coriolus versicolor polysaccharide
peptide slows progression of advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Respir Med. 2003
Jun;97(6):618-24

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