# Cardiovascular Benefits of Inhaled Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE · 2022 · $195,625

## Abstract

Program Director/Principal Investigator (Last, First, Middle): Conklin, Daniel J., Ph.D.
ABSTRACT
Extensive epidemiological evidence suggests that exposure to vegetation and residential proximity to
greenspaces lowers the risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, anxiety, depression and aggression.
Although it has been suggested that urban greenspaces exert their beneficial effects by removing air pollutants
and promoting physical activity, plants emit biogenic volatile organic chemicals (BVOCs), which by eliciting
beneficial cardiovascular and neurological effects could mediate the salutary effects of vegetation. Vegetation is
a major underappreciated domain of the natural environment that has received limited interest. Exposure to
greenspace within the natural environment has been linked to improvements in cardiovascular health. We
propose that plant-derived BVOCs including pinenes, limonene, and citronellol stimulate distinct signaling
pathways, in part, by activating the transient receptor potential ankyrin-1 (TRPA1) channel on cardiovascular
targets. In endothelial cells, for example, activation of TRPA1 releases nitric oxide that lowers blood pressure,
improves cardiovascular function and tamps down inflammation and thrombosis leading to an overall decrease
in cardiovascular disease risk. Completion of this project will rigorously establish beneficial cardiovascular effects
of inhaled BVOCs that are prevalent in human environments. Moreover, our studies will provide a first test of
hypothesis that beneficial effects of inhaled BVOCs are mediated, in part, by TRPA1. These preclinical studies
may also lead to the development of biomarkers of exposure to greenness, which likely will be useful in clinical
evaluation of the potential therapeutic use of greenness (e.g., planting trees) to decrease CVD risk in human
populations.
PHS 398/2590 (Rev. 06/09) Page Continuation Format Page

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10459548
- **Project number:** 5R21ES033323-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE
- **Principal Investigator:** Daniel Joseph Conklin
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $195,625
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-08-01 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10459548

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10459548, Cardiovascular Benefits of Inhaled Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds (5R21ES033323-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10459548. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*