Microplastic (MP) pollution has emerged as a global health crisis, as these particles enter food, water, and even human tissues. MPs can cause gastrointestinal inflammation, oxidative stress, and liver damage. Current strategies focus mainly on environmental cleanup, with limited research on dietary solutions to reduce human exposure.

Our project investigates Panax ginseng Meyer, a traditional Korean medicinal herb, as a dietary protector against MPs. Rich in ginsenosides, ginseng offers dual protection: it induces aggregation of MPs during digestion, lowering their bioaccessibility, and provides antioxidant defense to reduce oxidative stress in liver cells. Through wet lab experiments, hyperspectral imaging (HSI), and HepG2 cell studies, we demonstrate that ginseng can significantly decrease MP solubility and toxicity.

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In the modern world, we are facing a pervasive environmental and health crisis: microplastic (MP) contamination. Defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, these pollutants have infiltrated nearly every ecosystem on Earth (Prata et al., 2020). They are increasingly detected in our food chain and drinking water, leading to unavoidable human ingestion (Toussaint et al., 2019). Studies have found that vital human organs accumulate microplastics from the environment, and even our brains contain substantial amounts of microplastics (Nihart et al, 2025).

Studies estimate that the average person ingests between 74000 to 121000 microplastic particles annually, with higher exposure in urban areas and those who drink from plastic bottles (Cox et al, 2019). Once ingested, these particles can translocate from the gut into the bloodstream and accumulate in organs such as the liver, kidneys, and lungs. The health implications are concerning: MPs can induce inflammation, oxidative stress, and cellular damage (Qiao et al., 2019). They may also act as vectors for harmful chemicals and pathogens, compounding their toxicity (Wang et al, 2023).

Once inside the body, MPs can traverse the gastrointestinal tract, where they have been shown to disrupt epithelial integrity, trigger inflammation, and cause systemic oxidative stress. The liver, our body's primary detoxification organ, is particularly vulnerable to this damage. Certain types, like the surface-functionalized MPs such as aminated polystyrene microplastics used in our model system, are especially problematic as they exhibit increased cellular uptake and can generate harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to cellular and mitochondrial dysfunction and peroxidation of hepatic cells (Li, et al 2023). With no known natural mechanism to efficiently eliminate these particles from our bodies, there is an urgent need to develop strategies that can mitigate their absorption and toxicity.

Current strategies for handling MP pollution involve environmental removal efforts (filters, cleanup robots, wastewater treatments), which do not prevent ingested MPs from harming human health. No proven dietary strategy exists to block MPs once consumed (Campanale et tal, 2020).

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Dietary Fibers and Plant Extracts: Some studies show reduced MP absorption, but effects are inconsistent and mechanisms unclear (Li et al, 2022).

Medical Interventions: No pharmaceutical or clinical solution currently exists to neutralize MPs during digestion.

Problem: These methods either lack reproducibility, are not scalable, or fail to provide dual protection (blocking absorption and reducing toxicity).

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We set out to design a solution that mitigates MP damage, and is both effective and economic. Many novel therapies are expensive due to their dependence on high-cost intellectual property and patents that went into developing the therapy. Instead, we looked to natural plants and herbs to pick out potential candidates.

Our team was inspired by the potential of natural, diet-based interventions to address complex health challenges. We turned to ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer), a cornerstone of traditional East Asian medicine renowned for its broad restorative and protective properties. Ginseng's main pharmacological activities are attributed to diverse group of steroidal saponins known as ginsenosides, which constitute the major bioactive components of ginseng roots, leaves, and berries (Zhang et al., 2023).

Figure 2. Molecular structure of ginsenoside Rb1, a major bioactive compound in ginseng.

To date, over 100 distinct ginsenosides have been identified and are typically classified into two major groups based on their aglycone skeletons: the protopanaxadiol (PPD)-type (e.g., Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd) and the protopanaxatriol (PPT)-type (e.g., Rg1, Re, Rf, Rh1), each exhibiting distinct absorption, metabolism, and biological profiles (Jin et al., 2019). Ginsenosides have been shown to exert a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, neuroprotective, and membrane-stabilizing effects, through the modulation of diverse cellular signaling pathways such as NF-κB, Nrf2, and MAPK cascades (Xu et al., 2024).

Furthermore, recent studies have suggested that ginseng extracts and individual ginsenosides can interact with macromolecules such as proteins, lipids, and polysaccharides, forming supramolecular complexes under physiological conditions (Zhou et al., 2021). These interactions may enhance the bioavailability, cellular uptake, or extracellular aggregation of co-existing compounds, including potentially harmful substances such as heavy metals or synthetic particles (Yin et al., 2022).

We were particularly intrigued by the amphiphilic, or surfactant-like, nature of ginsenosides. This dual hydrophobic-hydrophilic structure allows them to interact with various surfaces and molecules. Ginsenosides may also modulate particle-surface interactions in the gastrointestinal tract. This raises the possibility that ginseng extracts could bind or aggregate with microplastic particles under digestive conditions, thereby reducing their intestinal absorption and downstream toxicity. This led us to our central question: Could the ginsenosides in ginseng interact with synthetic microplastic particles during digestion, altering their behavior and reducing their harm?

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We designed a solution combining traditional medicine and modern biotechnology:

1. Physical Mechanism: Ginsenosides act as natural surfactants. Their amphiphilic structure allows them to bind MPs, inducing aggregation and sedimentation in digestive fluids. This reduces bioaccessibility, preventing MPs from crossing intestinal barriers.
2. Biological Mechanism: Ginsenosides Rg1 and Rb1 activate the Nrf2 pathway, boosting antioxidant enzymes (HO-1, SOD) while directly scavenging ROS. This protects hepatic cells from oxidative damage.

Together, ginseng provides a two-in-one safeguard: it reduces the intestinal uptake of MPs and protects organs from the harmful effects of those that remain.

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Wet Lab Experiments

• In Vitro Digestion Model: Simulated human gastrointestinal digestion with MPs ± ginseng extract.
• Bioaccessibility Measurement: Quantified soluble MPs post-digestion using fluorescence spectroscopy.

Structural & Imaging Analysis

• Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) & Zeta Potential: Measured MP size distribution and surface charge changes with ginseng.
• Fluorescence Microscopy: Visualized MP aggregation in the presence of ginseng.
• Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI): Confirmed MP–ginsenoside interactions via spectral signatures.

Cell Studies (HepG2)

• MTT Cytotoxicity Assay: Assessed HepG2 cell viability after MP ± ginseng exposure.
• ROS Scavenging Assay: Measured intracellular ROS levels to evaluate antioxidant protection.

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Our findings demonstrate that ginseng extract can significantly reduce the bioaccessibility and toxicity of microplastics through dual physical and biological mechanisms. This has several important implications:

• Dietary Intervention: Ginseng could be developed as a functional food or supplement to mitigate microplastic exposure in humans.
• Public Health: A natural, accessible strategy to reduce the health risks of ubiquitous microplastic pollution.
• Future Research: Opens avenues for exploring other natural compounds with similar protective effects against environmental toxins.

Future Directions

• In Vivo Studies: Validate ginseng's protective effects in animal models of microplastic exposure.
• Clinical Trials: Assess safety and efficacy in human populations with high microplastic ingestion.
• Formulation Development: Optimize ginseng extract formulations for maximal bioavailability and protective effect.

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Jin, S., Jeon, J.-H., Lee, S., Kang, W. Y., Seong, S. J., Yoon, Y.-R., Choi, M.-K., & Song, I.-S. (2019). Detection of 13 ginsenosides (Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, Rg1, Rg3, Rh2, F1, Compound K, 20 (S)-Protopanaxadiol, and 20 (S)-Protopanaxatriol) in human plasma and application of the analytical method to human pharmacokinetic studies following two 24 week-repeated administration of red ginseng extract. Molecules, 24(14), 2618. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24142618

Xu, L., Zhao, X., Tang, F., Zhang, J., Peng, C., & Ao, H. (2024). Ameliorative Effect of Ginsenoside Rc on 5-Fluorouracil-Induced Chemotherapeutic Intestinal Mucositis via the PI3K-AKT/NF-κB Signaling Pathway: In Vivo and In Vitro Evaluations. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(23), 13085. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252313085

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Zhou, R., He, D., Xie, J., Zhou, Q., Zeng, H., Li, H., & Huang, L. (2021). The synergistic effects of polysaccharides and ginsenosides from American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) ameliorating cyclophosphamide-induced intestinal immune disorders and gut barrier dysfunctions based on microbiome-metabolomics analysis. Frontiers in Immunology, 12, 665901. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.665901

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