Goji Berries as a Potential Natural Antioxidant Medicine: An Insight into Their Molecular Mechanisms of Action

Abstract

Goji berries (Lycium fruits) are usually found in Asia, particularly in northwest regions of China. Traditionally, dried goji berries are cooked before they are consumed. They are commonly used in Chinese soups and as herbal tea. Moreover, goji berries are used for the production of tincture, wine, and juice. Goji berries are high antioxidant potential fruits which alleviate oxidative stress to confer many health protective benefits such as preventing free radicals from damaging DNA, lipids, and proteins. Therefore, the aim of the review was to focus on the bioactive compounds and pharmacological properties of goji berries including their molecular mechanisms of action. The health benefits of goji berries include enhancing hemopoiesis, antiradiation, antiaging, anticancer, improvement of immunity, and antioxidation. There is a better protection through synergistic and additive effects in fruits and herbal products from a complex mixture of phytochemicals when compared to one single phytochemical.

Impact of Goji Berries (Lycium barbarum) Supplementation on the Energy Homeostasis of Rabbit Does: Uni- and Multivariate Approach

“…In this contest, goji berry, the fruit of Lycium barbarum L., consumed in several Asian countries for a long time as a traditional tonic food and natural herbal remedy, has attracted a lot of attention also in Western countries in the last decades [1,2]. In fact, there are a lot of evidences showing that the berry has numerous potential beneficial effects for the general well-being of the individual and for the prevention and treatment of numerous pathologies [1][2][3][4]. Beside several biological active compounds such as carotenoids, vitamins (riboflavin, thiamin and ascorbic acid) and flavonoids, goji berry is primarily rich in polysaccharides [1] which are responsible for the main beneficial pharmacological effects of the fruit both in vitro [5][6][7][8] and in vivo in various laboratory animal species [9,10] and in clinical trials in humans [11,12].…”

Impact of Dietary Supplementation with Goji Berries (Lycium barbarum) on Microbiological Quality, Physico-Chemical, and Sensory Characteristics of Rabbit Meat

“…Goji berries (GBs) ( Lycium barbarum ) are grown naturally in East Asia, especially in the valleys of the Himalayas [ 1 ]. GBs are historically considered an essential element in the Mongolian and Tibetan traditional medicine, generically used as a dietary supplement [ 2 ].…”

“…Its health promoting properties were classified as nutraceutical food [ 5 ], used in human dietary as prevention of diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and for the reduction of cancer risk [ 6 ]. The goji berries health benefits are also represented by their protection of the gastrointestinal tract as well as their anti-ageing and immune-stimulating properties [ 1 ].…”

Coupling Ultrafiltration-Based Processes to Concentrate Phenolic Compounds from Aqueous Goji Berry Extracts

“…A perusal of the literature revealed that the main polyphenols identified in Goji berries are phenolic acids and flavonoids including caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, rutin and quercetin-diglucoside. These compounds are well known as radical scavengers and antioxidants capable of preventing cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic diseases [11]. Goji berries are also an excellent source of different classes of carotenoids, which are responsible for their characteristic bright orange and red colors [12].…”