Supplements Effects on NK Cells, T-Cells, Cancer Stem Cells, and Androgen Receptors

Below is a summary addressing whether each supplement may influence natural killer (NK) cells, T-cells, cancer stem cells (CSCs), or androgen receptors (ARs), based on current scientific evidence. The focus is on direct, preclinical, or clinical data for immunomodulation, anti-cancer, or hormone pathway effects.

At-a-Glance Table

Supplement	NK Cells	T-Cells	Cancer Stem Cells	Androgen Receptors
Activated charcoal	–	–	–	–
Artemesia	±	±	±	–
Astragalus	↑	↑	–	–
Berberine	±	↑	↓	↓
Black Seed Oil	±	↑	↓	–
Boswellia serrata	±	↑	±	↓ (weak)
Cinnamon	↑	↑	↓	–
Clove water	±	±	±	–
Curcumin	↑	↑	↓	↓
Dandelion powder	±	↑	↓	–
DMSO	–	–	±	–
Electrolyte	–	–	–	–
Ivermectin	–	–	↓	↓ (experimental)
Liposomal Vitamin C	↑	↑	±	–
Lycopene	±	↑	↓	↓
Magnesium (all forms)	±	↑	–	–
Manuka Honey	±	↑	↓	–
Matcha tea powder	↑	↑	↓	↓ (green tea EGCG)
Melatonin	↑	↑	↓	↓ (experimental)
Methylene Blue oral	–	–	–	–
Milk Thistle	±	↑	↓	–
Modified Citrus Pectin	±	↑	↓	–
Naltrexone	–	↑	–	–
Niclosamide	–	–	↓	↓ (experimental)
Pomegranate extract	↑	↑	↓	↓
Quercetin	↑	↑	↓	↓
Reishi Mushroom	↑	↑	↓	–
Saw Palmetto	–	–	–	↓
Stinging Nettle Root	–	–	–	↓
Turkey Tail (Coriolus)	↑	↑	↓	–
Vitamin D3	↑	↑	↓	↓
Vitamin K2	±	±	–	–
Vitamin E (tocotrienol)	↑	↑	↓	±
Zinc picolinate	↑	↑	–	↑ (cofactor)

Legend:
↑ = supported evidence for activation or enhancement
↓ = supported evidence for inhibition
± = some experimental/preclinical evidence or indirect activity
– = no significant or direct evidence

Highlights by Key Supplement Categories

Strong Multi-Pathway Activity

Curcumin: Enhances NK and T-cell activity, inhibits CSCs, downregulates ARs. Robust evidence from cell, animal, and early human studies8.
Green Tea/Matcha (EGCG): Stimulates NK and T-cells, reduces CSCs, inhibits AR pathways (especially in prostate cancer)1.
Quercetin: Boosts NK and T-cells, impairs CSCs, has some anti-AR properties5.
Reishi & Turkey Tail Mushrooms: Well-documented activation of both NK and T-cells, some CSC inhibition in preclinical work1.
Vitamin D3: Supports NK and T-cell regulation, possible CSC suppression, regulates ARs (notably in the prostate)1.
Vitamin E tocotrienols: Stimulate NK cells, modulate T-cells, and inhibit CSCs2.
Pomegranate: Inhibits CSCs, supports T-cell immunity, downregulates ARs in prostate models.

Immune/CSC Activity with Limited AR Evidence

Astragalus, Berberine, Black Seed Oil, Boswellia serrata, Cinnamon, Dandelion, Lycopene, Manuka Honey, Milk Thistle, Modified Citrus Pectin, Melatonin: These show assorted enhancement of NK and T-cells and evidence of anticancer or CSC effects, but their impact on androgen pathways in humans is less clear.

Primarily Immune Effects

Zinc: Essential for development/function of NK and T-cells; also a cofactor in AR signaling but does not inhibit AR activity2 8.

Not Supported or No Specific Evidence

Activated Charcoal, DMSO, Electrolyte, Methylene Blue, Naltrexone, Niclosamide (except experimental/CSC), Saw Palmetto, Stinging Nettle Root, Vitamin K2, Magnesium forms: No convincing direct evidence for pronounced effects on NK/T-cells or CSCs (though AR inhibition is the mechanism for Saw Palmetto and stinging nettle in benign prostatic hyperplasia).

Key Citations

Vitamins D/E, mushroom extracts, zinc, quercetin, and green tea show the most consistent effects on NK and T-cell immunity and/or impact CSC populations1 2 5 8.
Androgen receptor modulation is best supported for curcumin, EGCG, sulforaphane, quercetin, saw palmetto, pomegranate, and lycopene in preclinical models, particularly of prostate cancer1 5.

Additional Notes

Synergistic effects are common: combinations of immune-boosting and anticancer botanicals may be more effective than constituents alone, particularly for NK cell activity5.
Clinical evidence for robust anti-cancer efficacy—especially for CSCs and ARs—is still emerging and is strongest for a handful of compounds (curcumin, EGCG, vitamin D, mushrooms).
Bioavailability and actual immune effects can vary depending on formulation (e.g., liposomal vitamin C may have greater effect than standard)7.

Sources: Results synthesized from reviews of dietary immunomodulators and cancer cell biology, with explicit citations to peer-reviewed research as noted1 2 5 7 8.