NEW YORK — The maker of Airborne - the herbal supplement once claimed to help fight off colds - will pay $23.3 million to settle a class action lawsuit brought against the company for false advertising, according to one of the groups that joined the lawsuit, CNN reported Tuesday.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a non-profit advocacy group, said the company will refund money to consumers who bought Airborne's product, the report said. It will pay for advertisements in major publications instructing consumers how to get refunded, the report added.

"There's no credible evidence that what's in Airborne can prevent colds or protect you from a germy environment," said CSPI Senior nutritionist David Schardt, according to the report. "Airborne is basically on overpriced, run-of-the-mill vitamin pill that's been cleverly, but deceptively, marketed," Schardt added.

According to the company's Web site, Airborne was created by second-grade teacher, Victoria Knight-McDowell, who "studied the benefits herbal therapies used in Eastern Medicine." The site says Airborne "boosts the immune system with seven herbal extracts and a proprietary blend of vitamins, electrolytes, amino acids and antioxidants."

A recorded message at the toll-free number of the class-action settlement administrator said that Airborne Health Inc. has admitted no wrongdoing, CNN reported. Airborne Inc., Airborne Health Inc. and Knight-McDowell Labs are among the defendants in the lawsuit, filed in the Central District of California in U.S. District Court, the report said.

"Defendants deny any wrongdoing or illegal conduct, but have agreed to settle the litigation," the message said, according to CNN. A hearing to consider final approval of the settlement is scheduled for June 16.