Indications

Immune modulation,* hepatic support.* Used for serious immune support,* especially indicated in those situations where the white blood count is suppressed.

Instructions For Use

Two to three capsules two times daily. For maximum dose, use no less than 3000 mg of extract per day with a minimum of 34-40% polysaccharide content.

Toxicity, Cautions, Contraindications

Coriolus polysaccharides are safe and nontoxic, having been used daily in clinical studies lasting five to ten years. However, immuno-modulating substances should be used with extreme care or avoided completely in organ-transplant patients utilizing immuno-suppressive agents.

Clinical Research

The research suggests that the polysaccharide portion of the extract may enhance the cell-mediated immune response.* Although the mechanism of action is not clearly understood, the 1-4,1-3 proteoglycans act as a biological response modifier and have been found to support and enhance Natural Killer cell function, to stimulate depressed lymphocyte proliferation, and to support the healthy growth of white blood cells.*1,2,3 Also, the research shows these constituents to be effective in supporting normal cell growth, improving cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and increasing interleukin-2 production and T-cell proliferation.*4,5,6

Selected Clinical Studies

The results of an eight-year clinical trial, published in 1990, recorded substantial benefit from daily use of the Coriolus 1-4,1-3 extract. The group receiving the Coriolus extract experienced a significant improvement in immune health* over the group receiving the placebo, with the leukocyte activity of the Coriolus group showing “remarkable enhancement.” It was concluded that “the beneficial effects were probably due to the activation of leukocyte function* as one of the many biological-response-modifying activities induced by (Coriolus).”7 In a study published in Lancet, Coriolus was found to have a “restorative effect in patients who have been immuno-suppressed” and were experiencing depressed white blood counts.*8

Traditional Use And Preparation

Coriolus is sweet in taste and slightly warm in nature, acting through the spleen and heart meridians. It dispels damp and reduces phlegm.9 In Traditional Chinese Medicine Coriolus is prepared as a hot-water extraction/decoction.10 Coriolus is never used in the un-extracted form or prepared as a cold-process tincture.

Active Constituents

Heavy Molecular Weight Polysaccharides ( 1-4,1-3 proteoglycans)

Extraction Information

Hot-water extracts from both the fruit body and the mycelium are used in current clinical practice and research. The active constituents, the polysaccharides, are found in the cell walls of both, although extracts from the fruit body have shown higher levels of immune activity* with oral use.11 Coriolus is isolated through a multi-step hot-water extraction process, creating a high concentration of the 1-4,1-3 cell-wall constituents used in the Japanese research. As these compounds are difficult to extract and easily degraded with excessive heat NMR and linkage analysis are used to ensure product quality.

Description

Latin … Coriolus Super Strength, Trametes versicolor
Chinese … Yun zhi (Cloud Mushroom)
Japanese … Kawaratake
Common Name … Turkey Tail
Coriolus Super Strength belongs to the family Polyporaceae and is found throughout the wooded temperate zones of North America, Asia, and Europe. Found predominantly on hardwoods, the thin, woody, shelf-like fruit bodies form dense overlapping clusters on the sides of stumps and fallen trees. The fruit bodies (mushrooms) have a plush, velvety surface, are colored in varying shades of gray or brown, and have a distinctive pattern of alternating bands of dark and light color. The bottom is cream colored and porous.

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References

1. Ooi, V.E., Liu, F., Immuno-modulation and anti-cancer activity of polysaccharide-protein complexes. Curr Med Chem 2000 Jul;7(7):715-29.
2. Fujui, T.et al. Effect of PSK on prohibited immunity of splenectomized mice. Anticancer Res 1987 Jul-Aug; 7(48):845-8.
3. Kobayashi, H., et al., PSK as a chemopreventative agent. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 1993 May-Jun; 2(3):271-6.
4. Tsukagoshi, S., et al., Krestin (PSK) Cancer Treat Rev 1984 Jun; 11(2):131-55.
5. Kobayashi, H., et al., Antimetastatic effects of PSK (Krestin), a protein-bound polysaccharide obtained from basidiomycetes: an overview. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 1995 Apr-May; 4(3):275-81.
6. Kanoh, T., et al., Enhancement of the antitumor effect by the concurrent use of a monoclonal antibody and the protein-bound polysaccharide PSK in mice bearing a human cancer cell line. In Vivo 1994 Mar-Apr; 8(2): 241-5.
7. Torisu, M., et al., Significant prolongation of disease-free period gained by oral polysaccharide K (PSK) administration after curative surgical operation of colon cancer. Cancer Immunology Immunotherapy. 1990; 31:261-268.
8. Nakazato, H., et al., Efficacy of immunochemo-therapy as adjuvant treatment after curative resection of gastric cancer. Lancet, 343-1122-1126. 1994;
9. Hobbs, C., Medicinal Mushrooms, Botanica Press,1995.
10. Liu, B., Bau, Y., Fungi Pharmacopoeia. Kiniko Press, 1980.
11. Hotta, et al.,U.S. Patent #4,271,151.1981.