| Summary: | Particulate matters (PMs) from polluted air cause diverse pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, including lung inflammation. While the fruits (Goji) of <i>Lycium</i> trees are commonly consumed as traditional medicine and functional food ingredients, the majority of their roots are discarded as by-products. To enhance the industrial applicability of <i>Lycium</i> roots, we prepared an ethanol extract (named GR30) of <i>L. chinense</i> Miller roots and evaluated its potential protective effects against particulate matter 10 (PM10)-induced inflammation and immune cell death. The GR30 treatment (0–500 μg/mL) significantly attenuated the PM10-induced cell cycle arrest, DNA fragmentation and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in RBL-2H3 basophil cells. GR30 also significantly antagonized the PM10-induced expression of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-13, and TNF-α) and COX2 expression through downregulation of MAPKs (ERK and JNK) signalling pathway. Oral administration of GR30 (200–400 mg/kg) to PM10 (20 mg/mL)-challenged mice significantly reduced the serum levels of IgE and the expression of TNF-α and Bax in lung tissues, which were elevated by PM10 exposure. These results revealed that the ethanolic extract (GR30) of <i>L. chinense</i> Miller roots exhibited anti-inflammatory and cyto-protective activity against PM10-induced inflammation and basophil cell death, and thus, it would be useful in functional food industries to ameliorate PM-mediated damage to respiratory and immune systems.
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