Turkey Tail (Coriolus versicolor / Trametes versicolor) is probably the worlds most researched functional mushroom, including many clinical trials.

In Turkey Tail the marker compounds are beta-glucans (2 different types) and polyphenols (anti-oxidants). These should always be specified on the label. Since there are no noteworthy alcohol-soluble marker compounds present, a hot water extract is the best and most potent option. There is no need for dual or alcohol extraction.

Oriveda's PSP-50 is a hot water extract based on the COV-1® mycelium strain, which is the one used in many clinical trials. This mycelium strain contains 'PSP', a composite of beta-glucan and a protein, which is very bioactive.

The clinical trials always used purified -starch-free- mycelium extracts, not fruiting body extracts.
Oriveda's PSP-50 is currently the only commercially available pure mycelium extract using the COV-1® mycellium strain.

You may have heard about 'PSK' and 'PSP'. These are composite molecular structures consisting of beta-glucans linked to a protein, aka 'proteo-glycans' or 'glyco-proteins'. These proteo-glycans are also found in other mushrooms such as Reishi, Maitake and ABM and are very bioactive.

'PSP' is an improved version of the Japanese PSK, a patented Turkey Tail mycelium extract developed in the 1970's but now considered outdated and no longer in production because PSP is significantly more potent, not protected by a patent and cheaper to produce. Oriveda's PSP-50 is identical to the original PSP as it was developed in China, over 35 years ago.

Oriveda's PSP-50 has been cultivated and extracted using the original methods. The only difference is a significant higher purity due to the more advanced 21st century pharmaceutical techniques. Only pure COV-1® mycelium (the 'roots' of the mushroom) was used for Oriveda's extract, having the highest level of the desired bioactives. Our objective lab reports confirm the purity and potency of this extract.

Extracted using hot water followed by alcohol precipitation - the main bioactives are water-solubles with a high molecular weight according to research. Alcohol precipitation is a purification process. It removes useless matter and low molecular weight compounds and thus increases the concentration of the marker compounds in the extract. The final product contains no alcohol.