Plant Comparison

Oregon Grape vs Turkey tail

A side-by-side comparison of two medicinal plants — every documented constituent, action, use, safety note and cited source, assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana database.

First plant

Second plant

Plant AOregon GrapeMahonia aquifoliumBerberidaceaeFull monograph →

Plant BTurkey tailTrametes versicolorPolyporaceaeFull monograph →

At a glance

Oregon Grape and Turkey tail: they share 6 indicated uses (arthritis / joint pain, cancer (anticancer research), infection (general), …); 3 pharmacological actions in common.

Oregon GrapeTurkey tail

Constituents13

Pharmacological actions36

Indicated uses88

Safety notes22

Cited sources1317

Indicated uses

Only Oregon Grape

EczemaPsoriasis

Shared (6)

Arthritis / joint painCancer (anticancer research)Infection (general)Inflammation (general)Skin irritationWounds

Only Turkey tail

Cold & fluImmune support

Pharmacological actions

Only Oregon Grape

none

Shared (3)

Anti-inflammatoryAnticancer (preclinical)Antimicrobial

Only Turkey tail

AntioxidantAntiviralImmunomodulator / immune support

Evidence face-off — shared uses

Condition	Oregon Grape	Turkey tail	Verdict
Arthritis / joint pain	7/10	5/10	Stronger for Oregon Grape
Cancer (anticancer research)	2/10	9/10	Stronger for Turkey tail
Infection (general)	2/10	5/10	Stronger for Turkey tail
Inflammation (general)	7/10	5/10	Stronger for Oregon Grape
Skin irritation	8/10	5/10	Stronger for Oregon Grape
Wounds	1/10	5/10	Stronger for Turkey tail

Evidence scores (1–10) are computed from the tier of each cited source. “Comparable” means the two scores are within one point. Follow a score to its detailed sources.

Key Constituents

Isoquinoline alkaloids (berberine, berbamine, palmatine, jatrorrhizine, magnoflorine)^{[2, 11, 12]}

Berberine is the main anti-psoriatic and antimicrobial constituent.

AlkaloidsBerberine

Beta-glucan polysaccharides^{[11, 12]}

The principal immunomodulating constituents, forming the basis of PSK/PSP extracts.

Polysaccharides

Polysaccharopeptide (PSK/PSP, protein-bound polysaccharide)^[12]

Protein-bound polysaccharide complex studied extensively as an adjunct immunotherapy.

Polysaccharides

Phenolic compounds and triterpenes^[13]

Minor antioxidant constituents.

Phenolic compoundsTerpenes / terpenoids

Pharmacological Actions

Anti-inflammatory^{[7, 10, 11]}

Anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative (slows the skin-cell overgrowth of psoriasis)

Anticancer (preclinical)^{[3, 4, 6, 11]}

Anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative (slows the skin-cell overgrowth of psoriasis)

Antimicrobial^{[2, 5, 8, 9, 12]}

Antimicrobial (berberine) - supports skin and mucosal infection

Anti-inflammatory^{[11, 12, 13]}

Anticancer (preclinical)^{[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13]}

Antimicrobial^{[11, 12, 13]}

Antioxidant^{[8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13]}

Antiviral^{[11, 12, 13]}

Immunomodulator / immune support^{[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13]}

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Arthritis / joint pain^[11]Good · 7/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 7

Label: Arthritis / joint pain

Cancer (anticancer research)^[3]Traditional · 2/10

inferred from anticancer action

Evidence: 2

Label: Cancer (anticancer research)

Eczema^[11]Good · 7/10

Topical for atopic dermatitis (eczema) and skin irritation

Evidence: 7

Label: Eczema

Infection (general)^{[5, 12]}Traditional · 2/10

Antimicrobial (berberine) - supports skin and mucosal infection

Evidence: 2

Label: Infection (general)

Inflammation (general)^{[10, 11]}Good · 7/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 7

Label: Inflammation (general)

Psoriasis^{[1, 7, 11, 13]}Strong · 9/10

Anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative (slows the skin-cell overgrowth of psoriasis); Topical treatment of mild-to-moderate psoriasis (reduces plaque severity) - a double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT showed significant improvement in PASI and quality-of-life scores

Evidence: 9

Label: Psoriasis

Skin irritation^{[1, 11]}Good · 8/10

Topical for atopic dermatitis (eczema) and skin irritation

Evidence: 8

Label: Skin irritation

Wounds^[12]Traditional · 1/10

inferred from antimicrobial action

Evidence: 1

Label: Wounds

Arthritis / joint pain^{[11, 12, 13]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 5

Label: Arthritis / joint pain

Cancer (anticancer research)^{[1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12]}Strong · 9/10

inferred from anticancer action

Evidence: 9

Label: Cancer (anticancer research)

Cold & flu^{[11, 12, 13]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from antiviral action

Evidence: 5

Label: Cold & flu

Immune support^{[11, 12, 13]}Moderate · 5/10

Evidence: 5

Label: Immune support

Infection (general)^{[11, 12, 13]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from antimicrobial action

Evidence: 5

Label: Infection (general)

Inflammation (general)^{[11, 12, 13]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 5

Label: Inflammation (general)

Skin irritation^{[11, 12, 13]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

Evidence: 5

Label: Skin irritation

Wounds^{[11, 12, 13]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from antimicrobial action

Evidence: 5

Label: Wounds

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note^[12]Caution

Avoid internal use in pregnancy and breastfeeding: like goldenseal, the berberine it contains can cross the placenta and into milk and worsen newborn jaundice (kernicterus risk).

Safety note^{[11, 12]}Caution

Berberine impairs the metabolism of some medicines - for example it raises blood levels of cyclosporine, risking toxicity - so use caution with prescription drugs. It is used mainly topically for skin conditions.

Safety note^{[11, 12, 13]}Caution

Generally very safe and well tolerated. Rare cases of digestive upset or allergic reaction. No significant known drug interactions at normal doses. The PSK pharmaceutical form is used safely alongside standard cancer treatments. Suitable for most adults.

Safety note^{[11, 12, 13, 14]}Info

Duke (2002) does not include a dedicated entry for Turkey tail mushroom (Trametes versicolor) in the Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition.

External Ids

Gbif: 3033865

Wikidata: Q158303

Gbif: 2548311

Wikidata: Q753833

Botanical Description

Evergreen shrub, 0.5-2 m tall, spreading by underground rhizomes to form thickets. The pinnate leaves resemble holly, with 5-9 glossy, dark green, spiny-toothed leaflets that often turn bronze-red in winter. Small, bright yellow, six-petalled flowers are borne in dense, upright terminal racemes in early spring, followed by clusters of blue-black, grape-like berries with a waxy bloom. The wood and inner bark of the stem and root are bright yellow when cut, owing to their high content of berberine-type alkaloids.

Height: 0.5-2 m

Habit: Evergreen, rhizomatous, colony-forming shrub

Leaves: Pinnate, holly-like, 5-9 glossy dark green spiny-toothed leaflets

Flowers: Small, bright yellow, six-petalled, in dense upright terminal racemes

Stem: Woody; wood and inner bark bright yellow when cut

Root: Woody, rhizomatous, bright yellow within (berberine-type alkaloids)

Fruit: Clusters of blue-black, grape-like berries with a waxy bloom

Flowering Period: Early spring (March-April)

Bracket fungus (not a true plant) forming thin, tough, fan-shaped, overlapping shelves on dead or decaying hardwood, with a velvety, concentrically zoned upper surface in bands of brown, tan, cream, blue-grey and rust, and a white, minutely pored underside.

Height: Individual brackets 2-8 cm across, forming overlapping clusters

Habit: Bracket (shelf) fungus growing directly from dead wood, in tiered, overlapping clusters

Leaves: Not applicable (fungus); the fruiting body is a thin, tough bracket

Flowers: Not applicable (fungus); reproduces via spores released from pores on the underside

Stem: No true stem; the bracket attaches directly to the wood

Root: Not applicable; mycelium threads through the wood substrate

Fruit: Fan-shaped fruiting body (bracket) with a white, densely pored underside

Flowering Period: Fruiting bodies present year-round, most abundant in autumn

Habitat

Native to the Pacific Northwest of North America, growing in coniferous woodland understorey, forest margins and rocky slopes; widely introduced and naturalised as an ornamental and hedging shrub in temperate regions elsewhere.

Grows on dead, dying or fallen hardwood logs, stumps and branches in woodlands worldwide, including Europe, Asia and North America.

Harvesting

The root and root bark, the medicinal parts, are dug from established plants - traditionally in autumn - and dried. Because wild populations are slow-growing, cultivated or nursery-sourced material is preferred over wild-harvesting.

Parts: Root, Bark

Season: Autumn

Fresh brackets are harvested by cutting from the wood; for medicinal use the tough fruiting body is typically dried and then decocted (simmered) for a long time, or extracted, since the beneficial polysaccharides are not well-extracted by simple infusion.

Parts: Mycelium, Whole Plant

Season: Year-round, most abundant in autumn

Traditional Uses

Oregon grape root has a traditional Native American and Eclectic-medicine history as a bitter tonic and alterative (blood-purifying) remedy and for skin conditions. Its main modern use, supported by clinical trials, is topical application of a standardised bark extract for mild-to-moderate psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (eczema), where its berberine-type alkaloids give anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative effects on skin cells.^{[1, 11, 12]}

Turkey tail has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine (as yun zhi) and is one of the most researched medicinal mushrooms, with standardized polysaccharide-K (PSK) and polysaccharopeptide (PSP) extracts used clinically in Japan and China alongside conventional cancer treatment to support immune function.^{[11, 12, 13]}

Preparations

Topical cream/ointment^{[1, 11, 13]}

A standardised 10% Mahonia aquifolium bark extract cream, the best-studied form, applied to affected skin up to three times daily for psoriasis or eczema.

Long decoction^[11]

Dried fruiting body simmered in water for an extended period (often 1-2 hours) to extract the beta-glucan polysaccharides, then strained.

Standardized extract (PSK/PSP)^[12]

Standardized polysaccharide-K (PSK) or polysaccharopeptide (PSP) extract, the pharmaceutical-grade forms used in clinical research.

Dosage

Topical 10% extract cream^{[11, 13]}

Clinical trials in psoriasis and eczema have used a 10% Mahonia aquifolium bark extract cream applied to affected areas up to three times daily. Educational reference only, not a prescription; internal use is not well studied and should be supervised.

Standardized extract^[12]

Clinical research on PSK commonly uses around 3 g daily in divided doses. Educational reference only, not a prescription.

References

REF-1173, REF-1174, REF-1175, REF-1176, REF-1177, REF-1178, REF-1179, REF-1180, REF-1181, REF-1182

REF-1582, REF-1583, REF-1584, REF-1585, REF-1586, REF-1587, REF-1588, REF-1589, REF-1590, REF-1591

Lookalikes Review

Outcome: none-known

Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)

Reviewed Date: 2026-07-07

Outcome: has-lookalikes

Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)

Reviewed Date: 2026-07-07

Dangerous Lookalikes

Not documented

Safety note^{[15, 16, 17]}Caution

Dangerous Plant: stereum-hirsutum

Confused Part: The whole fan-shaped bracket (the concentrically zoned shelf growing on dead hardwood), especially the top surface, which looks almost identical from above.

Confusion Context: False turkey tail (Stereum hirsutum, and the near-identical Stereum ostrea) is the commonest fungus mistaken for medicinal turkey tail. Seen from above the two are near-identical: overlapping, fan-shaped, concentrically banded, fuzzy-topped brackets on dead wood. Stereum is NOT poisonous - it is simply inedible (too thin and leathery) and there are no documented poisonings. The problem is that it is a crust fungus lacking the medicinal polysaccharides of true turkey tail, so anyone who brews it gets a worthless tea. This record exists to prevent a wasted, ineffective harvest, not to warn of poisoning.

Distinguishing Features: UNDERSIDE (decisive): true turkey tail has a whitish PORE surface underneath, densely covered with tiny pores/tubes (about 2-5 per mm, visible with a hand lens). False turkey tail (Stereum) has a completely SMOOTH, poreless underside - it is a crust fungus, not a polypore., Underside colour: true turkey tail's pore surface is white to off-white. Stereum's smooth underside is typically tan, yellowish, greyish or pale reddish-brown; a coloured, non-white underside is a red flag., Texture: true turkey tail is thin and flexible; Stereum tends to be tougher, more leathery and often wavier at the margin.

Key Test: Turn the bracket over and look at the underside with a hand lens. Genuine turkey tail shows a white surface densely covered in tiny pores (roughly 2-5 per mm). If the underside is SMOOTH and poreless (and often tan/orange/brown rather than white), it is false turkey tail (Stereum) - discard it. Smooth underside = not turkey tail.

Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)

Reviewed Date: 2026-07-07

References & Sources

Gulliver, W.P. and Donsky, H.J (2005) 'A report on three recent clinical trials using Mahonia aquifolium 10% topical cream and a review of the worldwide clinical experience with Mahonia aquifolium for the treatment of plaque psoriasis', American Journal of Therapeutics, 12(5), pp. 398-406. doi:10.1097/01.mjt.0000174350.82270.da Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1097/01.mjt.0000174350.82270.da
Cernakova, M. and Kostalova, D (2002) 'Antimicrobial activity of berberine--a constituent of Mahonia aquifolium', Folia Microbiologica, 47(4), pp. 375-378. doi:10.1007/BF02818693 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02818693
Damjanovic, A., Kolundzija, B., Matic, I.Z., Krivokuca, A. and others (2020) 'Mahonia aquifolium Extracts Promote Doxorubicin Effects against Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells In Vitro', Molecules, 25(22), pp. 5233. doi:10.3390/molecules25225233 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25225233
Cernakova, M., Kostalova, D., Kettmann, V., Plodova, M. and others (2002) 'Potential antimutagenic activity of berberine, a constituent of Mahonia aquifolium', BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2, pp. 2. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-2-2 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-2-2
Slobodnikova, L., Kostalova, D., Labudova, D., Kotulova, D. and Kettmann, V (2004) 'Antimicrobial activity of Mahonia aquifolium crude extract and its major isolated alkaloids', Phytotherapy Research, 18(8), pp. 674-676. doi:10.1002/ptr.1517 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1517
Godjevac, D., Damjanovic, A., Stanojkovic, T.P., Andjelkovic, B. and Zdunic, G (2018) 'Identification of cytotoxic metabolites from Mahonia aquifolium using 1H NMR-based metabolomics approach', Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 150, pp. 9-14. doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2017.11.075 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpba.2017.11.075
Muller, K. and Ziereis, K (1994) 'The antipsoriatic Mahonia aquifolium and its active constituents; I. Pro- and antioxidant properties and inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase', Planta Medica, 60(5), pp. 421-424. doi:10.1055/s-2006-959523 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2006-959523
Rohrer, U., Kunz, E.M.K., Lenkeit, K., Schaffner, W. and Meyer, J (2007) 'Antimicrobial activity of Mahonia aquifolium and two of its alkaloids against oral bacteria', Schweizer Monatsschrift fur Zahnmedizin, 117(11), pp. 1126-1131. Preclinical
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Antimicrobial%20activity%20of%20Mahonia%20aquifolium%20and%20two%20of%20its%20alkaloids%20against%20oral%20bacteria
Vollekova, A., Kostalova, D., Kettmann, V. and Toth, J (2003) 'Antifungal activity of Mahonia aquifolium extract and its major protoberberine alkaloids', Phytotherapy Research, 17(7), pp. 834-837. doi:10.1002/ptr.1256 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1256
Hajnicka, V., Kostalova, D., Svecova, D., Sochorova, R. and others (2002) 'Effect of Mahonia aquifolium active compounds on interleukin-8 production in the human monocytic cell line THP-1', Planta Medica, 68(3), pp. 266-268. doi:10.1055/s-2002-23126 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2002-23126
Gulliver, W.P. and colleagues (2018) 'Review of the Efficacy and Safety of Topical Mahonia aquifolium for the Treatment of Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis', Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6334833/ Meta-analysis / review
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6334833/
Herbal Reality (n.d.) 'Oregon Grape Root (Berberis aquifolium): Benefits, Uses, Safety'. Available at: https://www.herbalreality.com/herb/oregon-grape/ Traditional / reference
https://www.herbalreality.com/herb/oregon-grape/
Bernstein, S., Donsky, H., Gulliver, W., Hamilton, D., Nobel, S. and Norman, R (2006) 'Treatment of mild to moderate psoriasis with Relieva, a Mahonia aquifolium extract - a double-blind, placebo-controlled study', American Journal of Therapeutics, 13(2), pp. 121--126. doi:10.1097/00045391-200603000-00007 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1097/00045391-200603000-00007

Pilkington, K., Wieland, L.S., Teng, L., Jin, X.Y. and others (2022) 'Coriolus (Trametes) versicolor mushroom to reduce adverse effects from chemotherapy or radiotherapy in people with colorectal cancer', Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 11(11), pp. CD012053. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012053.pub2 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD012053.pub2
Habtemariam, S (2020) 'Trametes versicolor (Synn. Coriolus versicolor) Polysaccharides in Cancer Therapy: Targets and Efficacy', Biomedicines, 8(5), pp. 135. doi:10.3390/biomedicines8050135 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines8050135
Fritz, H., Kennedy, D.A., Ishii, M., Fergusson, D. and others (2015) 'Polysaccharide K and Coriolus versicolor extracts for lung cancer: a systematic review', Integrative Cancer Therapies, 14(3), pp. 201-211. doi:10.1177/1534735415572883 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735415572883
Tsang, K.W., Lam, C.L., Yan, C., Mak, J.C. and others (2003) 'Coriolus versicolor polysaccharide peptide slows progression of advanced non-small cell lung cancer', Respiratory Medicine, 97(6), pp. 618-624. doi:10.1053/rmed.2003.1490 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1053/rmed.2003.1490
Ng, T.B (1998) 'A review of research on the protein-bound polysaccharide (polysaccharopeptide, PSP) from the mushroom Coriolus versicolor (Basidiomycetes: Polyporaceae)', General Pharmacology, 30(1), pp. 1-4. doi:10.1016/s0306-3623(97)00076-1 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0306-3623(97)00076-1
Kowalczewska, M., Piotrowski, J., Jedrzejewski, T. and Kozak, W (2016) 'Polysaccharide peptides from Coriolus versicolor exert differential immunomodulatory effects on blood lymphocytes and breast cancer cell line MCF-7 in vitro', Immunology Letters, 174, pp. 37-44. doi:10.1016/j.imlet.2016.04.010 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imlet.2016.04.010
Jedrzejewski, T., Piotrowski, J., Kowalczewska, M., Wrotek, S. and Kozak, W (2015) 'Polysaccharide peptide from Coriolus versicolor induces interleukin 6-related extension of endotoxin fever in rats', International Journal of Hyperthermia, 31(6), pp. 626-634. doi:10.3109/02656736.2015.1046953 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3109/02656736.2015.1046953
Scarpari, M., Reverberi, M., Parroni, A., Scala, V. and others (2017) 'Tramesan, a novel polysaccharide from Trametes versicolor. Structural characterization and biological effects', PLoS One, 12(8), pp. e0171412. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0171412 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0171412
Lysakowska, P., Sobota, A. and Wirkijowska, A (2023) 'Medicinal Mushrooms: Their Bioactive Components, Nutritional Value and Application in Functional Food Production - A Review', Molecules, 28(14), pp. 5393. doi:10.3390/molecules28145393 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28145393
Wang, K.F., Sui, K.Y., Guo, C. and Liu, C.Z (2017) 'Quorum sensing molecule-farnesol increased the production and biological activities of extracellular polysaccharide from Trametes versicolor', International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 104(Pt A), pp. 377-383. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.06.053 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.06.053
Chu, K.K., Ho, S.S. and Chow, A.H (2002) 'Coriolus versicolor: a medicinal mushroom with promising immunotherapeutic values', 42(9), pp. 976--984. doi:10.1177/0091270002042009004 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1177/0091270002042009004
Standish, L.J., Wenner, C.A., Sweet, E.S., Bridge, C., Nelson, A., Martzen, M., Novack, J. and Torkelson, C (2008) 'Trametes versicolor mushroom immune therapy in breast cancer', 6(3), pp. 122--128. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Trametes%20versicolor%20mushroom%20immune%20therapy%20in%20breast%20cancer
Wasser, S.P (2011) 'Current findings, future trends, and unsolved problems in studies of medicinal mushrooms', 89(5), pp. 1323--1332. doi:10.1007/s00253-010-3067-4 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-010-3067-4
Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition
Macalester College, Katharine Ordway Natural History Study Area 'Turkey Tail Fungus (Trametes versicolor)'. Available at: https://www.macalester.edu/ordway/biodiversity/inventory/turkeytailfungus/ Traditional / reference
https://www.macalester.edu/ordway/biodiversity/inventory/turkeytailfungus/
Missouri Department of Conservation 'False Turkey Tail (Stereum ostrea)'. Available at: https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/false-turkey-tail Traditional / reference
https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/false-turkey-tail
Kuo, Michael 'Stereum ostrea (False Turkey Tail)'. Available at: https://www.mushroomexpert.com/stereum_ostrea.html Traditional / reference
https://www.mushroomexpert.com/stereum_ostrea.html

Oregon Grape monograph Turkey tail monograph Compare other plants

Generated automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database and its cited sources. For educational purposes only — not medical advice. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants.