There are two different therapeutic strength extracts derived from Coriolus Versicolor. PSK is primarily protein linked and developed in Japan. PSP is primarily peptide linked and developed in China twelve years after the research on PSK was first published.The protein bound polysaccharide that was isolated from the mushroom is called Polysaccharide –K (Krestin, PSK). Their research found that PSK is effective as an
immune system boosting agent. It is used in some European countries as well as China and in Japan, PSK is prescribed in conjunction with chemotherapy and is covered by their government health insurance. PSK has documented immune boosting activity in vitro, in vivo in human clinical trials.
Human clinical trials show PSK can maintain health and wellness. In the 1980’s, Chinese researchers conducted further studies and were able to isolate a much more potent strain using a different, alcohol based extraction process. The result was Polysaccharide peptide or PSP. In the United States, top ranked hospital and research institutes have reported that Coriolus Versicolor, PSK and PSP helps boost the body’s own immune systems with limited side effects and safety of daily oral doses for extended periods of time.
PSK & PSP Extraction
Historically, Coriolus was picked, dried and steeped in boiling water and drunk as a tea to gain access to its properties. Today, PSK is extracted using a hot water/ethanol process using the fruit bodies of the mushroom. This provides a capsulated form of the PSK component of the mushroom which can be taken orally.
Real PSP is Never Produced From Fruit Bodies
Published scientific studies of PSP have used only extracts derived from the mycelia stage of the mushroom lifecycle, not extracts from fruitbodies (mature mushrooms). The PSP extracted from mycelia is chemically different to extracts from the fruit body later in the mushroom lifecycle. There are differences in monosaccharide composition (PSP has Galactose) and protein composition (PSP has peptides).
It is the chemical composition of PSP from mycelia that has been the subject of scientific research.
The only known process capable of producing the pure and potent Coriolus Versicolor mycelium needed as the raw material for research-quality PSP is to extract from mycelia produced through deep layer cultivation in pharmaceutical grade sterile production facilities. (Real PSP is never produced from fruit bodies extract taken from mycopharma.com)
