Can Panax ginseng help protect the body from the harmful effects of airborne particulate matter?

Recent studies have shown that exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM) adversely affects human health through various mechanisms, including oxidative stress, inflammatory response, apoptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Natural products have a wide range of physiological and pharmacological activities but with less toxicity than synthetic drugs; in recent years, natural products have become increasingly popular in the field of food and drug development. Panax (P.) ginseng is one of the more well-known natural products, and there have recently been increasing reports indicating that P. ginseng may alleviate toxicity caused by exposure to PM. In the current review, we summarize the positive potential role that P. ginseng-derived substances (total extract, saponin fraction, non-saponin fraction, their ingredients, etc.) have on PM-induced adverse reactions, and we also discuss their potential utility in food and drug development for prevention and treatment. Despite some promising findings, current research may be limited by a lack of comprehensive clinical studies and standardized methodologies. Future research should prioritize the investigation of P. ginseng's clinical efficacy and the development of advanced formulations to maximize its protective potential against PM-induced health risks.