Lycium barbarum Berries (Solanaceae) as Source of Bioactive Compounds for Healthy Purposes: A Review

Abstract

Lycium barbarum L. is a species widely used in dietary supplements and natural healthcare products. The berries, also known as goji or wolfberries, mostly grow in China, but recent reports on their outstanding bioactive properties have increased their popularity and cultivation around the world. Goji berries are a remarkable source of phenolic compounds (such as phenolic acids and flavonoids), carotenoids, organic acids, carbohydrates (fructose and glucose), and vitamins (ascorbic acid). Several biological activities, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, prebiotic, and anticancer activities, have been associated with its consumption. Hence, goji berries were highlighted as an excellent source of functional ingredients with promising applications in food and nutraceutical fields. This review aims to summarize the phytochemical composition and biological activities, along with various industrial applications, of L. barbarum berries. Simultaneously, the valorization of goji berries by-products, with its associated economic advantages, will be emphasized and explored.

Establishment of high performance liquid chromatographic fingerprint and determination of 4 kinds of phenolic acid bioactive substances of fruitless Lycium barbarum leaves from Ningxia at different harvesting periods

“…Additionally, it contained total sugar content of 4.71 g and high levels of calcium (2030 mg), P (717 mg), Fe (36 mg), Zn (12.4 mg) and Se (14 mg). These contents were significantly higher compared to Lycium barbarum fruits and leaves [ [28] , [29] , [30] , [31] , [32] ]. Moreover, FLBL not only serves as a nutritional supplement but also promotes health due to its excellent source of functional raw materials with broad application prospects in food, nutraceuticals, and healthcare.…”

Transcriptomics and Metabolomics Reveal the Critical Genes of Carotenoid Biosynthesis and Color Formation of Goji (Lycium barbarum L.) Fruit Ripening

“…The genes involved in carotenoid metabolism have been identified and investigated in several plants [2,24]. The genes involved in plant carotenoid biosynthesis usually have multiple copies that exhibit tissue-specific expression, such as PSY1, PSY2, and PSY3, which are specifically expressed in the fruits, leaves, and roots of tomatoes and citrus, respectively [25,26]. All tissues express PSY-A, whereas PSY-B is found only in the leaves and roots of watermelons [19].…”

Antitumor Mechanisms of Lycium barbarum Fruit: An Overview of In Vitro and In Vivo Potential

“…In various studies on goji berries, variable values have been obtained for different assays, such as total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total carotenoid content (TCC). These variations are primarily attributable to post-harvest techniques, extraction solvents, and the geographical origin of the samples [ 31 , 77 , 78 , 79 ].…”