The white underside of the mushroom Artist Conk (Ganoderma applanatum) turns brown when bruised and can be intricately etched into detailed carvings, hence the English common name of this ubiquitous American tree fungus.
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 commonly seen in modern scientific research, the focus of studies on Artist Conk extract has largely been in regards to its anti-tumor potential. Several studies have affirmed that it does exhibit tumor inhibiting properties. [402, 403, 404, 405] A 2008-paper by Jeong et al. reported that a compound isolated from Ganoderma applanatum "significantly inhibited the growth of solid tumor [Sarcoma-180] and increased the natural killer (NK) cell activity." [401] Natural killer cells are white blood cells that are part of the body's defense against cancer.
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.
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]
Additionally, world renowned medicinal mushroom expert Paul Stamets also includes inflammation and respiratory conditions as two more areas where scientific research on Artist Conk extract have yielded positive results. [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. - 14130
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 commonly seen in modern scientific research, the focus of studies on Artist Conk extract has largely been in regards to its anti-tumor potential. Several studies have affirmed that it does exhibit tumor inhibiting properties. [402, 403, 404, 405] A 2008-paper by Jeong et al. reported that a compound isolated from Ganoderma applanatum "significantly inhibited the growth of solid tumor [Sarcoma-180] and increased the natural killer (NK) cell activity." [401] Natural killer cells are white blood cells that are part of the body's defense against cancer.
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.
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]
Additionally, world renowned medicinal mushroom expert Paul Stamets also includes inflammation and respiratory conditions as two more areas where scientific research on Artist Conk extract have yielded positive results. [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. - 14130
About the Author:
Dr. Rafael has worked in the natural health field since finishing Chiropractic College in 1996. He currently specializes in medicinal mushrooms, working with the extracts of Paul Stamets, including the synergistic MycoSoft Gold Formula including Artist Conk. For research references to this article, please go to the Ganoderma applanatum research page.
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