Mushroom Compound May Suppress Prostate Cancer

In the United States, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men (after skin cancer), with 1 man in 7 predicted to have the diagnosis during his lifetime. Previously, Patrick Ling, from Queensland University of Technology (Australia), and colleagues observed that polysaccharopeptide (PSP), a compound found in the turkey tail mushroom, prevented prostate cancer development in pre-clinical investigations. The current study reveals that polysaccharopeptide – in conjunction with gamma-tocotrienol, a Vitamin E compound derived from palm oil, markedly activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) – a key cancer-fighting protein.  The study authors submit that: “Our results indicate that [polysaccharopeptide] and [gamma-tocotrienol ] treaments may have synergistic anti-cancer effect in vitro and in vivo, which warrants further investigation as a potential combination therapy for the treatment of cancer.”