What Hartford Hospital in Conneticut has to say about Coriolus Versicolor

“Currently, extracts of Coriolus versicolor called polysaccharide-K (PSK) and polysaccharopeptide (PSP) are under study as immune stimulants for use alongside chemotherapy  in the treatment of cancer. These two related substances, made from slightly different strains of the fungus, are thought to act as “biological response modifiers,” meaning that they affect the body’s response to cancer.

According to most but not all reported trials, most of which were performed in Asia, both PSK and PSP can enhance the effects of various forms of standard cancer treatment.  For example, in a 28-day double-blind  , placebo-controlled study of 34 people with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer, use of Coriolus extracts along with conventional treatment significantly slowed the progression of the disease.

It is thought that Coriolus extracts work by stimulating the body’s own cancer-fighting cells. PSK and PSP may also have cancer-preventive  effects.
In addition, very weak evidence hints that extracts of Coriolus versicolor might be helpful for HIV infection.”

(Source: www.hartfordhospital.org)

The multiple and complex mechanisms of action of Coriolus Versicolor PSP have been demonstrated through in vitro and animal studies. Coriolus PSP has suppressed the growth of human cancer cell lines in mice (sarcoma 180, lung adenocarcinoma and Lewis lung cancer).

It has also inhibited incorporation of two structural units of DNA (uridine and thymidine) in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, inhibited the growth of P388 leukemia cells, and demonstrated anti-proliferative activity against cell lines of human gastric cancer, lung cancer, lymphoma, and mononuclear leukemia.

Coriolus PSP has reversed tumor-induced immunodeficiencies in sarcoma-bearing mice by increasing immunoglobulin G and C3 complement levels9. It has also been associated with increases in white blood cell count, serum IgG, CD4, CD8, B-lymphocytes, and neutrophils, along with a higher survival rate of tumor bearing mice3. Many of these effects have been attributed to PSP being a strong scavenger of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. Coriolus Versicolor PSP has also been found to restrict the cell cycle of HL-60 leukemic cells through apoptosis.
These and other immune effects of PSK and PSP are described in reviews by Fisher and Yang, Ooi and Liu and Chu, Ho and Chow.

Source: (mdanderson.org)

See Also:

PSK PSP - Different Extractions of Coriolus Versicolor

Best Places to Buy Coriolus PSP

The Prevention and cancer control properties of Coriolus Versicolor PSK have been associated with its antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties in vitro and in vivo. PSK has demonstrated prevention of chemically induced DNA damage (sister chromatid exchanges) and subsequent tumors due to chemicals, radiation or other causes.

Coriolus PSK also seems to work in multiple steps of the malignant process by inhibiting adhesion, invasion, motility, and metastatic growth of tumor cells in animal models of cancer. Adhesion and invasion are inhibited by suppression of cell matrix-degrading enzyme production by malignant cells. Motility of malignant cells and subsequent attachment to blood vessels are inhibited by suppression of tumor-cell induced platelet aggregation and anti-angiogenic factors.

PSK has also induced apoptosis (programmed cell death) in lymphoma, leukemia and pancreatic cells.
Immune responsiveness of the host does not appear to be affected by PSK under normal conditions, but immune systems depressed by tumor-burden or chemotherapy, have reportedly been restored to normal levels by PSK in animal studies.
A variety of other mechanisms have been observed in laboratory studies of PSK. It was found to alter the expression of the p53 gene21, inhibit Epstein-Barr virus induced B-cell proliferation22 and suppress heat shock proteins that are thought to be involved in the progression of fibrosis. PSK has also been observed to stimulate differentiation (orderliness) of human myeloblastic leukemic cells.

When injected directly into a tumor, PSK produces local inflammatory responses that result in the non-specific killing of tumor cells. One study on vaccine therapy against cancer found that PSK promotes the maturation of dendritic cells to produce IL-12 and Th1 type cytokines.

Source: ( www.mdanderson.org)

See Also:

PSK PSP - Different Extractions of Coriolus Versicolor

Best Places to Buy Coriolus PSK