Parsnip compounds to help protect lungs in COPD
Official title: Regulation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by parsnip polyphenols
Funded at Purdue University · NIH-11058085 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $415,780 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AT012817-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11058085 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for future human testing would be people with COPD related to long-term smoking or air-pollution exposure.
✕Less likely to help
People with non-pollution-related lung diseases, acute infections, or very advanced COPD requiring continuous oxygen may not benefit from this approach.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
Purdue University
West Lafayette, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Kee-Hong — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Kim, Kee-Hong
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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.