Ganoderma Applanatum Medicinal Properties, Uses and Safety

Ganoderma applanatum is a polypore fungus that is sometimes used as a health supplement. It is commonly called Artist’s Conk and grows naturally in subtropical zones in Asia, Africa and the Americas.

G. applanatum is a perennial fungus that releases hundreds of millions of spores during the course of its annual growth cycle. Its mycelium extends into the rotting wood of dead or dying hardwood trees.

It is a common cause of death for beech and poplars, but also feeds on several other species of tree, including apple, elm, chestnut, maple, oak and walnut. In most cases, the fruiting body or “conk” grows out from the base or lower trunk of its host tree.

G. applanatum is often consumed as a tea and has a rich, smoky and slightly bitter taste. It is used as a medical mushroom, but is not thought to be as beneficial as its more well-known relative, Ganoderma lucidum (also known as reishi mushroom or lingzhi).

Reishi Mushroom

Mushroom Supplement

Immune Booster

Heart Health

Longevity

How It Works:

• Traditional Chinese immune modulator
• Promotes healthy blood pressure & cholesterol
• Anti-oxidant used for anti-aging benefits

Dosage:

Between 400 - 1800 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Possibly Safe

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Ganoderma Applanatum as a Medicinal Mushroom

No human studies have been conducted on G. applantum, but medicinal mushrooms have long been used to support health and treat disease.

Mushrooms like Ganoderma applanatum and G. lucidum possess a number of useful polysaccharide constituents. More than 650 species of mushrooms from 182 genera have been described. The most valuable polysaccharides are beta-glucans, which are known for their immune-modulating and anti-tumor actions.

Current estimates have the number of fungal species at more than five million. Of those, only a small percentage are considered medicinal mushrooms and even fewer have been the focus of scientific investigation.

Another species of Ganoderma, Ganoderma lucidum, has a long history of human use (some estimates claim the mushroom has been used for nearly 4,000 years) and has received modest scholarly attention.

Currently, the use of medical mushrooms is limited to alternative medicine practitioners.

G. Applanatum Properties

Like other species of the Ganoderma genus, G. applanatum is comprised of roughly 400 different phytochemicals.

It also contains bioactive triterpenes and polysaccharides that are being investigated for possible hepatoprotective, anti-cancer, immune-modulating, hypoglycemic, anti-fibrotic and antioxidant properties.

In 2015, the entire genetic code of G. applanatum was mapped using next generation sequencing technologies. The mushroom has a circular genome with 26.66 % GC (guanine, cytosine) content.

The genetic codes of G. applanatum and G. lucidum differ mainly in that they contain slightly different types of transfer RNA, a form of genetic material involved in transmitting genetic information outside of the cell.

Understanding the mitochondrial genome of Ganoderma applanatum will allow researchers to more efficiently determine its therapeutic effects.

Traditional Use of Ganoderma Applanatum

G. applantum has been used in a number of traditional medicine systems. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it is used to treat indigestion, excess phlegm, pain and reduce heat. [1]

The mushroom is traditionally consumed as a tea or a water-based extract. Its flavor can change depending on its host tree. Consuming G. applantum has been said to provide energetic warmth. [1]

Ganoderma Applanatum Research

G. applantum has received little scholarly attention compared to other species of the Ganoderma genus, such as reishi mushroom.

No human trials have been conducted using G. applantum. In laboratory and animal studies, the mushroom has been observed to exhibit immune-stimulating effects.

In laboratory studies it has stopped the proliferation of cancer cells, but it is unclear what affect this will have on the human body.

Some of the other preliminary observations about the property of G. applantum are discussed below.

Anti-Fibrotic Effects

A novel mero-triterpenoid in Ganoderma applanatum was discovered in 2015. It has been named Applanatum A and it has a unique chemical composition.

In preliminary studies, Applanatum A has been observed to demonstrate strong anti-fibrotic effects. Anti-fibrotic agents are said to block or prevent tissue scaring, causing regression of fibrosis.

Anti-Cancer Effects

Like Ganoderma lucidum, this species of mushroom may have benefits for cancer prevention or treatment. However, research is still in the very preliminary stage.

Ganoderma applanatum has been observed to exhibit anti-tumor effects. Certain polysaccharides in G. applanatum (taken from the mycelium) have demonstrated significant inhibition of tumor progression in laboratory experiments.

G. applanatum has also been observed to act against syngeneic and allogeneic tumors and prevent oncogenesis.

Safety of Ganoderma Applanatum

The safety of Ganoderma applanatum has not been established via scientific investigation; however, it does have a history of use in traditional practice, both in Asia and the Americas.

G. applantum may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medications. Be sure to speak with your doctor before taking Ganoderma applantum to make sure it is safe for you.

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