Artist Conk Mushroom vs. Diabetic Complications
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 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]
Artist Conk can be found growing on practically every species of hardwood tree, plus many conifers, including Douglas Fir. Arora says, "The only regions where it seems to be absent are those where there aren't any trees!" [400]
Our ancestors would burn Artist Conk because it produced not only a pleasant odor but an insect repelling smoke as well. [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]
But the primary focus of the 2005 study by Jung et al. was on the Artist Conk extract's potential as an aldose reductase inhibitor. Aldose reductase is an enzyme commonly considered the culprit to many of the organ complications seen in diabetes. Finding a way to inhibit aldose reductase is believed to be a major key to combat diabetic complications. Three separate studies have concluded that Artist Conk extract is a potent aldose reductase inhibitor. [407, 408, 409] Jung concludes, "These results suggested that G. applanatum [Artist Conk] might possess constituents with anti-diabetic and inhibitory effects on diabetic complications."
An unusual article published in 2005 reported that a polysaccharide extract from Artist Conk "could strengthen gastric mucosa barrier," a potentially useful property when treating ulcers. [410] Several other studies have found Artist Conk extract or isolated compounds from Artist Conk to be anti-bacterial, [411, 412, 413] anti-viral, [414] anti-parasitic, [415] immune enhancing, [25] diuretic, [415] and potently antioxidant. [416]
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. Never use any medicinal mushroom or herb without prior approval by a medical doctor. - 17274
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]
Artist Conk can be found growing on practically every species of hardwood tree, plus many conifers, including Douglas Fir. Arora says, "The only regions where it seems to be absent are those where there aren't any trees!" [400]
Our ancestors would burn Artist Conk because it produced not only a pleasant odor but an insect repelling smoke as well. [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]
But the primary focus of the 2005 study by Jung et al. was on the Artist Conk extract's potential as an aldose reductase inhibitor. Aldose reductase is an enzyme commonly considered the culprit to many of the organ complications seen in diabetes. Finding a way to inhibit aldose reductase is believed to be a major key to combat diabetic complications. Three separate studies have concluded that Artist Conk extract is a potent aldose reductase inhibitor. [407, 408, 409] Jung concludes, "These results suggested that G. applanatum [Artist Conk] might possess constituents with anti-diabetic and inhibitory effects on diabetic complications."
An unusual article published in 2005 reported that a polysaccharide extract from Artist Conk "could strengthen gastric mucosa barrier," a potentially useful property when treating ulcers. [410] Several other studies have found Artist Conk extract or isolated compounds from Artist Conk to be anti-bacterial, [411, 412, 413] anti-viral, [414] anti-parasitic, [415] immune enhancing, [25] diuretic, [415] and potently antioxidant. [416]
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. Never use any medicinal mushroom or herb without prior approval by a medical doctor. - 17274
About the Author:
Dr. Markho Rafael has worked with natural health since finishing Chiropractic University in 1996. He currently focuses on medicinal fungi, 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 medicinal research page.
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11:21 AM
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