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Goji berries, also known as wolfberry, Chinese wolfberry, and gou qi zi, is the common name for the fruit produced by two closely related species, Lycium barbarum and L. chinense, which are part of a large family of plants that also includes potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, and tobacco. The evergreen shrubs that produce goji berries are native to southeastern Europe and subtropical areas of China, Mongolia, and Himalayas in Tibet. Goji berries have a sweet/sour taste and a shape and texture similar to raisins.
Goji berries have a long history of use among Asian herbalists, who have used them for about 6,000 years to help vision, improve sexual function and fertility, boost the immune system, improve circulation, protect the liver, and promote longevity. Scientific investigations in recent years have shown goji berries to be a rich source of antioxidants, especially the carotenoids such as beta-carotene and zeaxanthin, which may partially explain some of the benefits claimed by herbalists. Zeaxanthin, for example, has been associated with a reduction in the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration.
Health Benefits of Goji Berries
A recent study conducted in Switzerland examined the effects of goji berries on macular characteristics and antioxidant levels in elderly adults. A total of 150 healthy adults ages 65 to 70 years participated in the double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. For 90 days, half of the subjects consumed 13.7 grams daily of Lacto-Wolfberry, a proprietary milk-based formula of goji berries, and the other half consumed placebo.
At the end of the intervention period, participants in the placebo group showed hypopigmentation and soft drusen accumulation (an indication of macular degeneration) in the macula of the eye, while subjects in the goji berry group remained stable. Participants in the goji berry group also demonstrated a significant increase in plasma levels of the antioxidant zeaxanthin (26%) and in antioxidant capacity (57%), while there was no change in the placebo group. No adverse effects were reported. The authors noted that 90 days of supplementation with goji berry formula raises “plasma zeaxanthin and antioxidant levels as well as protects from hypopigmentation and soft drusen accumulation in the macula of elderly subjects,” although exactly how it works is unclear. (Bucheli 2011)
A study published in Nutrition Research examined the impact of a goji berry juice preparation (GoChi) on antioxidant biomarkers in healthy adults. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study included 50 adults aged 55 to 72 years who took either 120 mL per day of GoChi or placebo for 30 days. Among participants who consumed goji berry juice, there was a significant increase in the antioxidant biomarkers superoxide dismutase (SOD) or 8.4 percent, and in glutathione peroxidase, 9.9 percent. The investigators also saw a reduction in lipid peroxidation, as indicated by a significant decrease of 8.7 percent in malondialdehyde levels. The study’s authors concluded that the goji berry juice “increased antioxidant efficacies in humans by stimulating endogenous factors and suggest that continued use beyond 30 days might help prevent or reduce free radical-related conditions.” (Amagese 2009)
Because previous studies suggested that elevated levels of homocysteine can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and goji berries have polysaccharides that have shown an ability to protect neurons from amyloid-beta peptide neurotoxicity, a team of scientists set out to determine if goji berries can provide protection against Alzheimer’s disease. Using rat cortical neurons, the investigators examined the neuroprotective effects of goji berries against homocysteine-induced neuronal damage. They found that goji berries significantly reduced neuronal cell death and apoptosis in primary cortical neurons. Goji berries also significantly reduced homocysteine-induced tau phosphorylation. Abnormal phosphorylation of tau protein is a characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. Overall, the authors concluded that goji berries have “the potential to be a disease modifying agent for the prevention of AD.” (Ho 2010)
Goji Berries and Cancer
One of the active components in goji berries is 2-O-B-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid (AA-2BG), a vitamin C analog. A team of scientists evaluated the cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects of AA-2BG against cervical cancer cells (Hela). They discovered that AA-2BG selectively induced cell death and repressed the proliferation of cervical cancer cells via a mechanism of stabilizing p53 protein. The findings indicated that “AA-2BG and vitamin C may share a similar mechanism of inducing Hela cell apoptosis,” while also suggesting that goji fruit “may be a potential dietary supplement and anticancer agent aimed at the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer.” (Zhang 2011)
One study has explored the possible role of the polysaccharides in goji berries in colorectal cancer. Researchers administered 100 to 1,000 mg/L of goji berry polysaccharides to two types of human colon cancer cells (SW480 and Caco-2) for 1 to 8 days. The polysaccharides inhibited cell growth in both colon cancer cell lines in a dose-dependent manner, and also had a long-term anti-proliferative impact. Based on these results, the authors concluded that “LBP [lycium barbarum polysaccharide] is a candidate anticancer agent.” (Mao 2011)
How to Use Goji Berries
Goji berries can be eaten raw or brewed into a tea, and the berries are sometimes added to trail mixes. The supplement is available as a liquid extract or as juice.
Goji berries may interact with anticoagulant drugs (blood thinners), such as warfarin, and increase the risk of bleeding.
Goji Berries Video
References
Amagese H et al. Lycium barbarum (goji) juice improves in vivo antioxidant biomarkers in serum of healthy adults. Nutr Res 2009 Jan; 29(1): 19-25
Bucheli P et al. Goji berry effects on macular characteristics and plasma antioxidant levels. Optom Vis Sci 2011 Feb; 88(2): 257-62
Ho YS et al. Neuroprotective effects of polysaccharides from wolfberry, the fruits of Lycium barbarum, against homocysteine-induced toxicity in rat cortical neurons. J Alzheimers Dis 2010; 19(3): 813-27
Mao F et al. Anticancer effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides on colon cancer cells involves G0/G1 phase arrest. Med Oncol 2011 Mar; 28(1): 121-26
Zhang Z et al. Selective suppression of cervical cancer Hela cells by 2-O-B-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid isolated from the fruit of Lycium barbarum L. Cell Biol Toxicol 2011 Apr; 27(2): 107-21
