Artist Conk Mushroom vs. Diabetic Complications
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The English common name for the tree mushroom Ganoderma applanatum is ‘Artist Conk,’ due to the fact that the light pores on its underbelly stain brown when etched, thus supplying a nature-made canvas for artists.
Artist Conks can live for 50 years and grow to arms width or more. David Arora of the mushroom identification guide Mushrooms Demystified says that along with the Red-belted Conk (Fomitopsis pinicola), Artist Conk is “the most common conk in our area [USA].” [400]
“The only regions where [Artist Conk] seems to be absent are those where there aren’t any trees!” says Arora. [400] It can grow on most hardwood trees plus some conifers species, like the northwestern Douglas Fir.
In the past, people would burn Artist Conk to give off an insect repellant smoke as well as an odor that was also pleasant to humans. [25]
As is common in modern medical science, much of the recent research on Artist Conk extract has been focused on its cancer fighting properties. In a study conducted in 2008, Jeong et al. concluded that a compound [exo-biopolymer] isolated from Artist Conk “significantly inhibited the growth of solid tumor [Sarcoma-180] and increased the natural killer (NK) cell activity.” [401] (Natural killer cell is a type of white blood cell that is of particular importance in the human body’s natural defense against cancer.) Several other studies have also found Artist Conk extract to possess anti-tumor properties. [402, 403, 404, 405]
A less commonly studied area when it comes to medicinal mushrooms is their effect on blood glucose levels and diabetic complications. Jung et al. in 2005 reported that an alcohol extract of Artist Conk showed blood glucose lowering properties. [407] This was later confirmed in 2007 when a new study reported an average 22.0% blood glucose lowering effect by a compound isolated from Ganoderma applanatum, as well as a lowering of blood lipids (triglycerides and cholesterol) by 20.3%. [406]
Perhaps of even greater interest than the blood glucose lowering effect of Artist Conk is its potential to help inhibit diabetic complications, which was the main focus of the 2005 study by Jung et al. It is commonly believed in the scientific community that the enzyme aldose reductase is largely responsible for the organ complications seen in diabetes. No less than three studies on Artist Conk extract have reported that it powerfully inhibits aldose reductase activity, thus suggesting a potential protective effect against diabetic complications. [407, 408, 409] “These results suggested that G. applanatum [Artist Conk] might possess constituents with anti-diabetic and inhibitory effects on diabetic complications,” concludes Jung.
Moving on to other areas of health, a 2005 paper published findings that Artist Conk extract “could strengthen gastric mucosa barrier,” which may come in handy for treating gastric ulcers. [410] Other studies have reported Ganoderma applanatum extract as immune boosting, [25] anti-bacterial, [411, 412, 413] antioxidant, [416] anti-viral, [414] diuretic and anti-parasitic. [415]
In addition, Paul Stamets also lists respiratory conditions and inflammation as areas where research has shown Artist Conk extract to be beneficial, in his book Mycelium Running. [134]
Note: The statements on this page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult a licensed medical practitioner before using any herb (or mushroom) for medicinal purposes.
Dr. Markho Rafael has worked with natural health since finishing Chiropractic College in 1996. He currently specializes in medicinal mushrooms, working with the extracts of Paul Stamets, including the synergistic MycoSoft Formula including Artist Conk. For research references to this article, please go to the Ganoderma applanatum research page.
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