Protective effect of supplementation with Ginseng, Lilii Bulbus and Poria against PM in air pollution-induced cardiopulmonary damage among adults.

Exposure to PM (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm) has been associated with increased cardiopulmonary outcomes, mediated by a hypothesized biological mechanism of systemic inflammation and oxidation. This randomized, double-blinded and placebo-controlled trial among 120 healthy adults in Wuhan, China, was conducted to evaluate whether the supplementation of herbal product composed of Ginseng, Lilii Bulbus and Poria (GLP) which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activity offers protective effects on PM -induced damage to cardiopulmonary health. Participants received four rounds of health examinations and two rounds of blood sample collection from November 2018 to January 2019. Compared to the placebo group, the GLP group showed significant increased antioxidant biomarkers such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and paraoxonase1 (PON1). What is more, interleukin-6 (IL-6), an inflammatory biomarker, was significantly decreased in the GLP group. In addition, nitric oxide and club cell secretory protein (CC16) were increased but heart rate was decreased in the GLP group. As for pulmonary function indicators, significantly increased fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) was observed in the GLP group. Taken together, we concluded that GLP supplementation is associated with decreased inflammatory biomarker and increased antioxidant biomarkers suggesting cardiopulmonary benefits against PM exposure among young adults in China.