Lycium chinense, commonly known as the Chinese wolfberry or goji berry, is a species of the genus Lycium in the Solanaceae family. Native to China, it is renowned for its bright red berries, which are celebrated for their nutritional and medicinal properties.

Botanical Classification:

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Order: Solanales
• Family: Solanaceae
• Genus: Lycium
• Species: Lycium chinense

Plant Characteristics:
Lycium chinense is a deciduous shrub or small tree that typically grows up to 2-4 meters in height. It has slender, arching branches with small, lance-shaped leaves. The plant produces tubular, purple or white flowers, which are followed by bright red, berry-like fruits. These berries are typically harvested in late summer and early autumn.

Chemical Composition and Structure:
The goji berries and other parts of the plant contain a variety of beneficial compounds:

Vitamins: Rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and several B vitamins.

Minerals: Contains essential minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron.

Antioxidants: High in antioxidants including carotenoids (like zeaxanthin), polysaccharides, and flavonoids, which help combat oxidative stress.

Amino Acids: Includes essential amino acids that support overall health.

Polysaccharides: Contains complex sugars that have potential immune-boosting properties.

How to Cultivate It:

• Climate: Prefers temperate and subtropical climates. Tolerates a range of temperatures but thrives in areas with warm summers and cold winters.
• Soil: Grows well in well-drained, sandy or loamy soils with a slightly acidic to neutral pH.
• Sunlight: Requires full sun for optimal growth and fruit production.
• Watering: Needs regular watering, especially during dry periods. It is drought-tolerant but should not be waterlogged.
• Pruning: Prune annually to maintain shape, remove dead or diseased wood, and encourage healthy growth.

Uses and Benefits:

• Culinary Uses: Goji berries are consumed fresh, dried, or as part of various dishes. They are used in soups, teas, and as snacks or ingredients in desserts.
• Medicinal Uses: In traditional medicine, goji berries are used to boost the immune system, improve vision, enhance liver function, and promote overall well-being. They are also believed to have anti-aging properties and support cardiovascular health.
• Economic Uses: The berries are commercially valuable and are often used in health supplements and functional foods.

Cosmetic Uses:

• Antioxidants: The high levels of antioxidants, including carotenoids and flavonoids, help protect the skin from free radical damage, reducing signs of aging and promoting a youthful appearance.
• Hydration: Goji berry extracts are used in skincare products to enhance skin hydration and elasticity.
• Skin Brightening: The antioxidants and vitamins in goji berries may help brighten the complexion and reduce the appearance of age spots and hyperpigmentation.
• Anti-inflammatory: Extracts from the plant have anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe irritated skin and reduce redness.
• Collagen Production: The vitamins and antioxidants support collagen synthesis, improving skin firmness and reducing wrinkles.

Applications:

• Skincare Products: Used in creams, serums, masks, and lotions for their hydrating, anti-aging, and brightening effects.
• Anti-aging Treatments: Incorporated into products designed to reduce wrinkles and improve skin texture.
• Brightening Products: Used in formulations targeting uneven skin tone and pigmentation issues.

Environmental and Safety Considerations:

• Pests and Diseases: Susceptible to pests like aphids and diseases such as powdery mildew. Proper pest management is necessary.
• Invasive Potential: Generally not considered invasive, but it can spread in suitable growing conditions.
• Safety: Generally regarded as safe for topical application. However, like all extracts, it should be used in accordance with established guidelines to avoid potential allergic reactions or skin irritations. People with allergies or very sensitive skin should be careful.

Studies

The most recent scientific literature has focused interest on the root of Lycium barbarum in which polysaccharides can effectively counteract certain diseases such as hyperlipidemia and diabetes (2).

This study found a relative correlation between polyphenol content in a Goji extract and antioxidant and antineoplastic activity against breast cancer (2).

A 12-month treatment with Goji showed neuroprotective effect for the retina and could help delay or minimize cone degeneration in Retinitis pigmentosa (3).

Goji studies

References______________________________________________

(1) Kwok SS, Bu Y, Lo AC, Chan TC, So KF, Lai JS, Shih KC. A Systematic Review of Potential Therapeutic Use of Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharides in Disease. Biomed Res Int. 2019 Feb 12;2019:4615745. doi: 10.1155/2019/4615745. PMID: 30891458; PMCID: PMC6390233.

Abstract. Objective: To evaluate the effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides in the treatment and/or prevention of diseases of different etiologies and systems....Conclusion: Results from existing studies suggest that LBP is a promising therapeutic agent, particularly in the management of liver disease, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. One major limitation of current research is a lack of standardization and quality control for the LBP used. The availability of research-grade LBP will inevitably promote future research in this field worldwide.

(2) Georgiev KD, Slavov IJ, Iliev IA. Antioxidant Activity and Antiproliferative Effects of Lycium barbarum's (Goji berry) Fractions on Breast Cancer Cell Lines. Folia Med (Plovdiv). 2019 Mar 1;61(1):104-112. doi: 10.2478/folmed-2018-0053. 

Abstract. Background: Lycium barbarum has gained immense popularity over the past decade because of its antioxidant properties. There are many reports of observed health benefits of juice consumption, including prophylaxis in neoplastic disease and treatment of tumors. Materials and methods: In this study, we isolated three fractions of Lycium barbarum fruits - total water, pectin-free and polysaccharide, and determined their antioxidant activity by ORAC and HORAC assays. We investigated the antiproliferative effects of Lycium barbarum's pectin-free and polysaccharide fraction on three different breast cell lines - MCF-10A (non-tumorigenic epithelial breast cell line), MCF-7 (breast cancer cell line, estrogen, progesterone receptors +, HER2-), and MDA-MB-231 (breast cancer cell line, triple negative), by the MTT dye reduction assay. Results: The Lycium barbarum's pectin-free fraction showed concentration-dependent growth inhibition on the three cell lines, moreover, on cancer cells (MCF- 7 and MDA-MB-231) it was significantly more pronounced. The polysaccharide fraction showed negligible activity on the three cell lines, only the highest concentration (1000 μg/mL), suppressed the proliferation of MCF-7 cells. The combination of pectin-free and polysaccharide fraction on MCF-7 did not show the expected synergistic effect. Conclusion: We found a relative correlation between the polyphenolic content of the extracts and the observed effects. The pectin-free extract had the highest content of polyphenols with the best antioxidant and antineoplastic activity against breast cancer cells. Addition of polysaccharide to the pectin-free fraction contributes to its pharmacological activity.

Jeong HC, Jeon SH, Guan Qun Z, Bashraheel F, Choi SW, Kim SJ, Bae WJ, Cho HJ, Ha US, Hong SH, Lee JY, Hong SB, Kim SW. Lycium chinense Mill improves hypogonadism via anti-oxidative stress and anti-apoptotic effect in old aged rat model. Aging Male. 2020 Dec;23(4):287-296. doi: 10.1080/13685538.2018.1498079. 

Abstract. Purpose: To evaluate the pharmacological effects of goji berry (Lycium chinense P. Mill) in an animal model of late-onset hypogonadism (LOH).Materials and methods: Thirty 18-month-old male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used as the LOH aged rat model. Rats were divided into five groups: a control group (n = 6), low concentration goji berry extract group (150 mg/kg/day) (n = 6), high concentration goji berry extract group (300 mg/kg/day) (n = 6), low concentration goji berry complex extract group (150 mg/kg/day) (n = 6), and high goji berry complex concentration extract group (300 mg/kg/day) (n = 6). After six weeks of treatment, sperm counts and motility, serum testosterone level, androgen receptor (AR) expression, oxidative stress marker, and apoptotic factors were examined.Results: Goji berry extracts increased testosterone level to 2.07 ± 0.06 pmol/L in the goji berry 150 mg/kg group, 2.39 ± 0.08 pmol/L in the goji berry 300 mg/kg group, 2.97 ± 0.03 pmol/L in the goji berry complex 150 mg/kg group, and 3.34 ± 0.04 pmol/L in the goji berry complex 300 mg/kg group compared to 1.86 ± 0.03 pmol/L in the control group, respectively (p < .05). AR expressions were increased in testis tissue significantly but were not significant in prostate tissue.Conclusions: Goji berry might improve LOH by reversing testicular dysfunction via an anti-oxidative stress mechanism without inducing prostate disease.

 (3) Chan HH, Lam HI, Choi KY, Li SZ, Lakshmanan Y, Yu WY, Chang RC, Lai JS, So KF. Delay of cone degeneration in retinitis pigmentosa using a 12-month treatment with Lycium barbarum supplement. J Ethnopharmacol. 2019 May 23;236:336-344. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.03.023. Epub 2019 Mar 12. PMID: 30877066.