Polysaccharide-K

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Trametes versicolor, the mushroom from which PSK was isolated. Stumpfungus.jpg
Trametes versicolor, the mushroom from which PSK was isolated.

Polysaccharide-K (Krestin, PSK) is a protein-bound polysaccharide isolated from the mycelium [1] [2] of Trametes versicolor .

Contents

Although PSK is approved in Japan as an adjuvant therapy in cancer treatment, [3] it is not approved in the United States for treatment of cancer or any clinical condition. [4]

Research

There is little evidence that turkey tail mushroom extracts or PSK are useful for treating cancer or any medical condition. [4]

Polysaccharide-K, an extract of T. versicolor, is approved in Japan as an adjuvant therapy in cancer treatment. [3]

Chemistry

PSK is a protein polysaccharide consisting of a beta-glucan β-1,4 main chain with β-1,3 and β-1,6 side chains. The approximate molecular weight of PSK is 100,000 Da, and the protein component is reported at the β-1,6 side chain. [5] PSK is isolated from the "CM-101" strain of Trametes versicolor. The analogous compound PSP, is derived from the "COV-1" strain of Trametes versicolor. [6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Yang, Dandan; Zhou, Zijing; Zhang, Lijuan (2019). Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science. Vol. 163. Chapter Eight - An overview of fungal glycan-based therapeutics: Academic Press. pp. 135–163. doi:10.1016/bs.pmbts.2019.02.001. ISBN   9780128177402. PMID   31030746 . Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  2. ↑ Habtemariam, Solomon (2020). "Trametes versicolor (Synn. Coriolus versicolor) Polysaccharides in Cancer Therapy: Targets and Efficacy". Biomedicines. 8 (5): 135. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines8050135 . PMC   7277906 . PMID   32466253.
  3. 1 2 "Turkey Tail Uses, Benefits & Dosage". Drugs.com. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  4. 1 2 "Medicinal Mushrooms (PDQ)". Physician Data Query (PDQ), US National Cancer Institute. 2 March 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  5. ↑ Kobayashi H, Matsunaga K, Oguchi Y (1995). "Antimetastatic effects of PSK (Krestin), a protein-bound polysaccharide obtained from basidiomycetes: an overview". Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. 4 (3): 275–81. PMID   7606203.
  6. ↑ Fisher M, Yang LX (2002). "Anticancer effects and mechanisms of polysaccharide-K (PSK): implications of cancer immunotherapy". Anticancer Research. 22 (3): 1737–54. PMID   12168863.
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