Beneficial effects of black ginseng against particulate matter-induced lung damage

In this study, South Korean researchers investigated the effects of black ginseng extract (BGE) against particulate matter (PM)-induced lung endothelial cell barrier disruption and pulmonary inflammation. Their findings were published in The American Journal of Chinese Medicine.

• Inhalation of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is linked to pulmonary injury caused by the loss of vascular barrier integrity.
• According to studies, black ginseng, which is made by steaming and drying Panax ginseng nine times, exhibits a variety of pharmacological activities, including antibacterial, antihyperglycemic, anti-atopic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities.
• For their experiment, the researchers examined permeability, leukocyte migration, activation of proinflammatory proteins, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and histology in endothelial cells and mice treated with PM2.5 and BGE.
• They found that BGE significantly scavenged PM2.5-induced ROS and inhibited ROS-induced activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) while concurrently activating Akt, which helped maintain endothelial integrity.
• BGE also reduced vascular protein leakage, leukocyte infiltration and proinflammatory cytokine release in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in PM-induced lung tissues.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that black ginseng protects against PM-induced inflammatory lung injury and vascular hyperpermeability.

Journal Reference:

Lee W, Ku SK, Kim JE, Cho SH, Song GY, Bae JS. INHIBITORY EFFECTS OF BLACK GINSENG ON PARTICULATE MATTER-INDUCED PULMONARY INJURY. The American Journal of Chinese Medicine. 2019;47(06):1237–1251. DOI: 10.1142/s0192415x19500630