Turkey Tail Mushroom
Overview
Turkey Tail mushroom (Trametes versicolor) is a common medicinal mushroom found worldwide, recognized by its colorful, banded appearance resembling a turkey's tail. It is particularly rich in polysaccharides, including polysaccharide-K (PSK) and polysaccharide-peptide (PSP), which have been extensively studied for their immune-modulating properties.
Within the BRAIN Diet framework, turkey Tail supports gut microbiome diversity and may help modulate immune responses. It is one of the most researched medicinal mushrooms for immune support and is commonly consumed as a tea, extract, or supplement.
Food Context
Sourcing
- Store dried mushrooms in a cool, dry place away from light
Preparation
- Most commonly consumed as a tea, extract, or supplement rather than whole mushroom
- Dried Turkey Tail can be simmered to make a tea
- Extracts may provide more concentrated polysaccharides
- The mushroom itself is tough and not typically consumed whole
Recipes
Nutrition
Reliable composition data for this preparation are not yet available.
Recorded constituents
Bioactive compounds
| Compound / class | Content | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beta-Glucans | Present [3] | mushroom fruiting bodies |
| Polysaccharides | Present [3] | Trametes versicolor fruiting bodies |
- Beta-Glucans: Beta-glucans occur in the fruiting body; dry-mass assays are not fresh-food amounts. [3]
- Polysaccharides: Contains beta-glucan polysaccharides; extract composition is not whole-mushroom composition. [3]
Technical provenance
Beta-Glucans: Sari et al. (2017), Food Chemistry 216:45–51. Named species identified; enzymatic beta-glucan measurements of fruiting material in Tables 1 and 3. Quantities expressed per dry mass; no fresh-food conversion. [3]
Polysaccharides: Sari et al. (2017), Food Chemistry 216:45–51. Table 3 identifies beta-glucan polysaccharides in Trametes versicolor fruiting bodies; not an extract yield applied to whole material. [3]
This value uses a documented composition interpretation. See FCIR-015.
Substances
2 substances in this food
Beta-Glucans
Beta-glucans occur in the fruiting body; dry-mass assays are not fresh-food amounts.
Polysaccharides
Contains beta-glucan polysaccharides; extract composition is not whole-mushroom composition.
References
[1] Turkey tail provides polysaccharopeptides studied for immune-modulating effects. Starck et al. 2024. Mushrooms: a food-based solution to vitamin D deficiency to include in dietary guidelines
[2] Fungal beta-glucans modulate innate immune and gut-associated signalling. Lacasa et al. 2023. Yeast Beta-Glucan Supplementation with Multivitamins Attenuates Cognitive Impairments in Individuals with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial