The black wolfberry (Lycium ruthenicum) belongs to the Solanaceae family. The genus Lycium comprises 87 recognized species and is distributed in arid and semi-arid regions of temperate to subtropical zones in the world. At present, China is the greatest global producer and supplier of wolfberry products. The goji berry has recently became one of the most popular fruits in Turkey due to its health-beneficial compounds such as phenolic compounds (phenolic acids and flavonoids), carotenoids, tocopherol, ascorbic acid and antioxidant properties. Lycium fruits have been used as a remedy since ancient times in Asian countries, especially in China, for their emmenagogue, diuretic, antipyretic, tonic, aphrodisiac, hypnotic, and hepatoprotective effects. The purpose of this paper is to determine the biochemical characteristics (namely total phenolic and anthocyanin contents, as well as the total antioxidant capacity) of black wolfberries grown under the Aksaray ecological conditions.
The goji berry (Lycium spp.) belongs to the Solanaceae family. The genus Lycium comprises 87 recognised species and is distributed in arid and semi-arid regions in temperate to subtropical zones in the world. In botanical terms, there are three types of Lycium species known as wolf-berry and commercially grown in the whole world: Lycium barbarum L. (2n = 24), Lycium chinense Miller (n = 12), and Lycium ruthenicum Murray (n = 12). Wolfberry is a herb growing naturally in both the mild and tropical areas of East, Southeast Asia, and Southern Africa. Also known as wolfberry (Lycium spp.), the motherland of wolfberry is China and it can even be grown in the Himalayas, the highest points of Tibet and Mongolia. Recently, in Turkey goji berry became a popular fruit due to its health benefit compounds, especially phenolic compounds (phenolic acids and flavonoids), carotenoids, tocopherol, ascorbic acid and antioxidant properties. The purpose of this study was to conduct a historical assessment of the botanic properties and cultivation of wolfberry plant and to provide information on the types and cultivars grown commonly in Turkey, distribution areas of production, consumption and use as a technologic product, marketing status, benefits for human health, multiplication and production techniques.
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