Parsnip compounds to help protect lungs in COPD
Regulation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by parsnip polyphenols
This project will see whether natural compounds from parsnips can help protect the lungs of people with COPD linked to air pollution or smoking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11058085 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have COPD, researchers are exploring a food-based approach using polyphenols found in parsnip roots to reduce pollution- and smoke-related lung damage. They will use lab experiments and animal models to study how these parsnip compounds affect lung inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial function after exposure to harmful chemicals like acrolein. The team will identify which preparation or processing of parsnip maximizes protective polyphenols and test biological effects on airway and alveolar cells. Findings would guide whether the approach could move toward human testing or a dietary supplement strategy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future human testing would be people with COPD related to long-term smoking or air-pollution exposure.
Not a fit: People with non-pollution-related lung diseases, acute infections, or very advanced COPD requiring continuous oxygen may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to a safe, diet-based way to reduce lung inflammation and slow COPD progression from pollution or smoking.
How similar studies have performed: Early lab and animal studies suggest some plant polyphenols can protect lungs from pollutant damage, but using parsnip-derived polyphenols is largely novel and not yet tested in people.
Where this research is happening
West Lafayette, United States
- Purdue University — West Lafayette, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Kee-Hong — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Kim, Kee-Hong
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.