Turkey tail mushroom, Trametes versicolor, has a longstanding history of traditional medicinal use. This common polypore mushroom contains a variety of bioactive compounds, the best known of which is the polysaccharide β-glucan. Turkey tail is also the source of the protein-bound β-glucan compounds polysaccharide-K and polysaccharopeptide. The medicinal effects of turkey tail and its extracts have been studied both preclinically and clinically. This article reviews this preclinical and clinical evidence, including studies on the immunomodulatory, antioxidative, prebiotic, and anticancer effects of T. versicolor. The bulk of the clinical data on turkey tail mushroom comes from trials in people with cancer, which are also reviewed here. There are many areas where further clinical research on turkey tail mushroom remains to be conducted.
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