Goji Berry

Goji Berry (Lycium barbarum), also known as Gou Qi Zi. It is highly popular abroad, and foreign media refer to it as “Goji Berry.”

Following in the footsteps of Laoganma and Mayinglong, a new Chinese specialty has taken the foreign world by storm: goji berry (Lycium barbarum). Foreigners find goji berries incredibly useful, steeping them in water daily and snacking on them like candy, believing them to be miraculous with numerous health benefits. They have even coined the term “Goji Berry,” and many fashion bloggers eat them every day, inventing new ways to enjoy them. In the eyes of our foreign friends, goji berries have become an essential accessory for wellness influencers showcasing a healthy lifestyle—posting on social media without a sprinkle of goji berries is simply not done.

Lycium chinense Miller (also known as Ningxia wolfberry or Chinese wolfberry) is a perennial woody plant of the Solanaceae family and genus Lycium. Its branches are slender, grayish in color, and arching or pendulous; leaves are ovate; flowers grow singly or in pairs in the leaf axils on long branches; the fruit is a red, ovoid berry. The flowering period is from June to July, and the fruiting period from August to October. Li Shizhen stated: “Gouqi is a combined name of two trees; like the thorny Gouji, its stems resemble the branches of the Qiliu willow, hence the combined name ‘Gouqi’.” Wolfberry originated in China, native to the northwestern regions, especially in Ningxia, Gansu, and Qinghai as major producing areas, later spreading to other parts of China and the world. It is mostly distributed in temperate and subtropical zones, cultivated in most northern provinces of China, and commonly grows on hillsides, roadsides, or near villages. Wolfberry thrives in sunny, cool climates, is cold-tolerant, and has strong drought resistance—it can even grow in arid desert lands. It is salt-alkali tolerant and often grows in alkaline soils and sandy loam; it prefers deep, fertile loam for optimal cultivation. Propagation is typically by seed or cuttings. Wolfberry is both a medicinal and edible nutrient-rich vegetable and a valuable traditional Chinese medicine. According to the *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Husbandman’s Classic of the Materia Medica): “Wolfberry treats pathogenic factors in the five viscera, heat vexation and wasting-thirst (xiao ke), generalized bi syndrome (zhou bi) and wind-damp (feng shi). With long-term use, it strengthens sinews and bones, lightens the body, delays aging, and enables endurance of cold and heat.” In folk culture, the vibrant red wolfberry is an auspicious symbol, ranking among the eight auspicious plants of Chinese folk tradition. The verse: “The heavy dew descends, on those thorny wolfberry shrubs. The virtuous and noble man, his virtue is without flaw.” These four lines use wolfberry to praise the virtues and good name of a noble gentleman, indicating that during the Zhou dynasty, wolfberry enjoyed high esteem in people’s lives, rich in cultural connotation.

Lycium barbarum L. — the specific epithet “barbarum” is interpreted in Latin as “medicinal.” L. is the standard abbreviation for Carl von Linné (Linnaeus). Lycium chinense Mill. — the specific epithet “chinense” indicates that this species was discovered in China, first found in Taiwan, and is the same species as the most common goji berry in mainland China. A northern variant (var. potaninii) now exists. (Mill. is the abbreviation for the naming author.)

Name Origin

The name *gouqi* (Lycium barbarum, Goji Berry) first appeared in China over two thousand years ago in the *Classic of Poetry* (Shijing). The Ming dynasty herbalist Li Shizhen wrote: “*Gouqi* is the name of two plants. This plant has thorns like the *gou* (thorny tree) and stems like the *qi* (willow), hence the combined name.” Daoist texts state that a thousand-year-old *gouqi* takes the form of a dog, thus earning the name *gou* (dog) — though whether this is true remains unverified. Song (the physician) said: “There are three types of ‘Immortal’s Staff’ (*xianren zhang*): one is *gouqi*; another is a leafy vegetable resembling *kuju* (endive); the third is the blackened stem of a dead bamboo.”

“Wolfberry” is the most common English name for goji berries (Lycium barbarum). Its origin is not entirely clear; it may stem from the genus name Lycium bearing a phonetic resemblance to Lycos, which means “wolf” in Greek, thus leading to the name Wolfberry. The other English name, “Goji Berry,” has been in use since the 21st century, when Chinese goji berries entered the international market and became increasingly recognized by Europeans, deriving from the pinyin “gǒuqǐ.”

Cultivation history

Ancient cultivation: Lycium barbarum (Goji berry) has a long history of cultivation in China. As early as the Western Han Dynasty over 2,000 years ago, there were literary records documenting its cultivation and use. At that time, people had already begun to introduce wild Goji berries into horticultural cultivation, utilizing their medicinal value and nutritional properties.

Tang and Song Flourishing: During the Tang and Song dynasties, the cultivation of Lycium barbarum (goji berry) further developed, becoming an important cash crop. According to ancient texts such as the *Tang Materia Medica* and *Supplement to the Materia Medica*, people at that time had already begun to understand and utilize the medicinal value of goji berry, widely incorporating it into Chinese herbal formulas.

Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368–1912): During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the cultivation of Goji berry (Lycium barbarum) further expanded, especially in northwestern regions such as Ningxia and Gansu. These areas offered suitable climatic conditions and fertile soil, which were highly favorable for the growth of Goji berry. The plant also became an important economic resource for local farmers. Modern Development: Entering the 20th century, with advances in science and technology and growing public attention to health, the cultivation and utilization of Goji berry entered a modernized phase. The application of modern agricultural techniques further improved both the yield and quality of Goji berry. Meanwhile, Goji berry products evolved from traditional Chinese medicinal materials into key raw materials for nutritional health supplements.

Textual Research on Materia Medica

Shennong Bencao Jing (Divine Farmer’s Materia Medica): This is the earliest Chinese Materia Medica work, recording numerous medicinal plants and their effects. In the Shennong Bencao Jing, Fructus Lycii (Goji Berry) is listed as a herb that “supplements the Middle and boosts Qi, nourishes the Liver and Kidney, brightens the eyes, and moistens the Lung.” It is used to treat patterns such as Liver and Kidney deficiency, blurred vision, and Lung dryness.

Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica): This monumental work on botanical classification and medicinal effects was compiled by the renowned Ming dynasty herbalist Li Shizhen. In the Bencao Gangmu, the medicinal value of Fructus Lycii is described in detail. It states that Fructus Lycii can nourish Yin and supplement the Kidney, brighten the eyes and boost Qi, moisten the Lung and stop cough, and also discusses methods for harvesting, storing, and using the herb.Other Materia Medica Works: In addition to the Shennong Bencao Jing and Bencao Gangmu, many other ancient Chinese herbal texts also recorded and expounded on Fructus Lycii, such as the Suixiju Dietary Manual and the Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica (Bencao Tujing). These works reflect the recognition and exploration of the medicinal value of Fructus Lycii by ancient medical scholars.

Main Ingredients: Lycium barbarum fruit contains betaine, atropine, and hyoscyamine. Lycium barbarum polysaccharides: Water-soluble polysaccharides, the most significant active components in Lycium barbarum, with relative molecular masses ranging from 68 to 200 kDa, have become a research hotspot globally. Among these, studies on the immunomodulatory and anti-tumor effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides are the most prevalent. Numerous studies have shown that Lycium barbarum polysaccharides possess immune-enhancing, anti-aging, anti-tumor, free radical-scavenging, anti-fatigue, radiation-protective, hepatoprotective, and reproductive function-protecting and improving effects. Betaine: Chemical name 1-carboxy-N,N,N-trimethylaminoethanide inner salt, structurally similar to amino acids, belonging to quaternary ammonium alkaloids. Betaine is one of the main alkaloids in Lycium barbarum fruit, leaves, and pedicels. Its effect on lipid metabolism or anti-fatty liver is primarily attributed to betaine, which acts as a methyl donor in the body. Research on Lycium barbarum betaine is currently limited to domestic studies on content determination, extraction processes, and its physiological effects on the plant (e.g., enhancing salt tolerance), with minimal pharmacological and efficacy studies. Lycium barbarum pigments: Various coloring substances present in Lycium barbarum berries, important physiologically active components of the seeds. These mainly include carotene, lutein, and other colored substances. The carotenoids in Lycium barbarum have significant medicinal value. Many studies have demonstrated that Lycium barbarum seed pigments can enhance immune function, prevent and inhibit tumors, and prevent atherosclerosis. Carotene is the main active component of Lycium barbarum pigments, with important physiological functions such as antioxidant activity and serving as a precursor for vitamin A synthesis. Pharmacological Actions: Influences immune function. Nature and Flavor: Lycium barbarum fruit: sweet, neutral. Lycium barbarum leaf: bitter, sweet; cool in nature. Actions: Lycium barbarum fruit: nourishes the Liver, enriches the Kidney, moistens the Lung. Lycium barbarum leaf: tonifies deficiency and benefits essence, clears heat and brightens the eyes.