Can Common Mushroom Aid in Preventing Diabetic Complications?
Monday, September 14th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
Artist Conk (Ganoderma applanatum) is so named because it provides an excellent material for artistic carvings. The whitish pores stain brown when bruised and very intricate etchings can be made in this way.
Artist Conk is a perennial that can live for 40-50 years or longer and grow quite large. Mushroom expert David Arora calls it “the most common conk in our area [USA],” together with Red-belted Conk (Fomitopsis pinicola). [400]
Ganoderma applanatum (Artist Conk) grows on nearly all species of hardwood, and even on some conifers such as Douglas Fir. “The only regions where it seems to be absent are those where there aren’t any trees!” says Arora. [400]
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]
In 2008, a study by Jeong et al. stated that an isolated compound from Artist Conk “significantly inhibited the growth of solid tumor [Sarcoma-180] and increased the natural killer (NK) cell activity.” [401] NK cells, or Natural Killer cells, are white blood cells that form a vital part in the human immune system’s cancer fighting arsenal. At least four additional studies have also reported positive findings in regards to the anti-tumor properties of Ganoderma applanatum. [402, 403, 404, 405]
Another area of interest in the study of Artist Conk extract has been its effect on blood sugar and potential to inhibit some of the complications of diabetes. A study in 2007 found that a compound extracted from Artist Conk was able to lower the glucose levels in body fluids by 22.0%, and cholesterol and triglyceride levels by 20.3%. [406] The glucose lowering effect of an alcohol extract of Artist Conk was previously noted in a study by Jung in 2005. [407]
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.
Looking at other research on Artist Conk, a 2005 study reported a polysaccharide extract of Artist Conk as strengthening the gastric mucosa barrier, useful in cases gastric ulcers. [410] Other papers have reported Artist Conk extracts as anti-viral, [414] anti-bacterial, [411, 412, 413] anti-parasitic and diuretic, [415] antioxidant, [416] and immune boosting. [25]
In his book Mycelium Running, medicinal mushroom expert Paul Stamets also lists inflammation and respiratory conditions as areas where research has shown Artist Conk extract to have a beneficial effect. [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. Never use any medicinal mushroom or herb without prior approval by a medical doctor.
Dr. Markho Rafael has worked in the natural health field since finishing Chiropractic College in the mid-90’s. He currently specializes in medicinal mushrooms, working with the extracts of Paul Stamets, including the synergistic MycoSoft Formula with Artist Conk. For research references to this article, please visit the Ganoderma applanatum research page.
Possible Related Posts
Researchers Find Help against Diabetic Complications from Common MushroomArtist Conk Mushroom vs. Diabetic ComplicationsCholesterol Lowering Drug Reduces Diabetic Amputation Risk