Gogi Berries
What are the nutritional benefits of Goji berries?
Macronutrients:
Goji berries contain 19 amino acids. Amino acids are the building block of proteins. 8 amino acids are considered essential for life and must be found in our diet. All 8 of these amino acids are found in the Goji berry.
Goji berries contain 10% Protein. This is higher than the amount of protein found in whole wheat.
The polysaccharides in goji berries are very important health sugars needed for cell membrane function and structure. They help to form important glycolproteins that can be used as receptor sites on cell membranes. These glycoproteins are foundational for cell communication. The immune system relies on good cell communication, as do many other systems, such as the endocrine system. These receptor sites are, also, important for the transportation of important nutrients into the cell as well. Substances such as insulin require a binding site in order to transport glucose into the cell.
Wolfberries contain a good amount of fiber. Four ounces of wolfberries contain 215 mg of fiber.
Micronutrients:
Goji berries contain 21 trace minerals including germanium, (an anti-cancer trace mineral rarely found in foods.) Goji berries have 110mg/100g of calcium. This compares to taro leaves which have 107 mg/100g and cruciferous vegetables which have about 50 mg/100g and cherries which have 16mg/100g. (USDA 1999)
Polyphenols are a group of substances that include flavones (like carotenoids), isoflavones (such as genistein and deidstein) catechins (such as you find in green tea) quercetin, proanthocyanidins and anthocyanidins (such as you find in purple grapes, blue berries, grape seed extract), ellagic acid (especially high in red raspberries). Goji berries contain a number of polyphenols. The importances of these phytonutrients are just beginning to be uncovered. One thing is known for sure, though they are not considered “vital” for life and cannot be labeled as vitamins, they have anti-carcinogenic, anti-mutagenic, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-oxidant properties and have to be in our diet for us to have a good quality of life. I believe the additive and synergistic effects of phytochemicals in fruit and vegetables are responsible for their potent antioxidant and anti-cancer activities.
Goji berries contain many, many antioxidants including carotenoids such as beta-carotene and zeaxanthin. They are one of the richest sources of carotenoids of all known foods. They contain 12,000 IU/100 g of beta carotene. There are 11,000 IU/100g of beta carotene in carrots and 2500 IU/100g in apricots.
Goji berries contain vitamin C at higher levels than oranges. It is reported to have the highest concentration of vitamin C of all fruits and vegetables. It contains 148 mg/100 g according to the USDA 1999. Other foods such as parsley, spinach and cruciferous vegetables contain from 93-133 mg/100g. Oranges have 53 mg/100 g and tomatoes have 19 mg/100g.
Goji berries contain B complex vitamins, necessary for converting food into energy.
Goji berries contain vitamin E (usually found in grains and seeds but rarely found in fruits).
Goji berries contain beta-sitosterol, an anti-inflammatory agent. Beta-sisterol also lowers cholesterol and has been used to treat sexual impotence and prostrate enlargement.
Goji berries contain essential fatty acids which are required for the body’s production of hormones and smooth functioning of the brain and nervous system.
Goji berries contain cyperone, a sesquiterpene that benefits the heart and blood pressure, alleviates menstrual discomfort and has been used in the treatment of cervical cancer.
Goji berries contain solavetivone, a powerful anti-fungal and anti-bacterial compound.
Goji berries contain Physalin, a natural compound that is active against all major types of leukemia. Physalin has been shown to increase splenic broad-spectrum anti-cancer effect. It has also been used as a treatment for hepatitis B.
Goji berries contain betaine, which is used by the liver to produce choline, a compound that calms nervousness, enhances memory, promotes muscle growth, and protects against fatty liver disease. Betaine also provides methyl groups for the body’s energy reactions and can help reduce levels of homocysteine, a prime risk factor in heart disease. It also protects DNA. Betaine is a micro nutrient that is indespensible for liver function, digestion, and DNA function. It is also very important in B-complex metabolism. Other foods that contain betine are : wheat germ, spinach, beets, and shrimp.
Medicinally Speaking:
With medicinal herbs, their activity is hardly ever due to just one single chemical constituent that you see with drugs. Rather, it is a mixture of constituents that are responsible for the therapeutic or protective effect of botanical medicines. And with medicinal herbs, there are likely many constituents not yet identified or researched. There are countless thousands of herbal constituents called phytochemicals that are yet to be discovered and the goji berry is likely to be full of them. Very few official methods exist for analyzing phytochemicals. Researchers have been forced to develop qualitative and semi-quantitative chromatographic methods of separation and analysis in the painstaking attempt to unravel the complex chemical nature of botanicals.
Lycium berries in China are used to improve circulation, protect the liver and kidneys and as a remedy for such symptoms as dizziness, ringing in the ears, blurred eyesight and other vision problems. The berries exert a beneficial effect on the liver, protecting it from damaging toxins. The root stimulates the involuntary nervous system that governs the internal organs. Since the 1st century AD in Chinese medicine, gogi berries have been extolled for longevity. Chinese legend claims a very long life from using these intriguing berries.
Medicinally, goji berries have been used to strengthen muscles and bone. They have been used to stimulate tissue development. They help to improve liver function, restore vitality and improve vision. The polysaccharides in the goji berry help with cell receptor sites, improving the immune system, cell communication, and recovery from diseases that stem from cell communication problems such as diabetes. (A person has cell receptor problems long before diabetes is diagnosed and when a person has diabetes there are many other cell receptor operations that are also hindered.)
Because the goji berry exerts liver protection and contains so many anti-cancer, DNA protective constituents, some scientists believe it is a very good food to prevent cancer. Studies have shown that these berries led to a regression of cancer in 75 percent of patients. Other studies have show that increase the sensitivity of radiation therapy and enhance the immune system of cancer patients.
For more information on Goji Berries visit the Health Information Library.
Research evidence for this page:
Nutrition:
“Scavenger capacity of Wolfberry crops on Superoxide radicals, Hydrogen peroxide, Hudroxyl radicals and Singlet oxygen” J. Agricultural Food Chemistry 2000,48:5677
“Scavenging dffect of total flavonoids of Lycium barbarum on active oxygen radicals”
J. Wei Sheng Yan Jiu 1998;27:109
“Identification and quantification of Zeaxanthin esters in plants (Lycium Chinese fruits”
J. Agricultural Food Chemistry 2003;52:7004
“Hepatoprotective (liver) Pyrrole derivatives of Lycium chinense furits”
J. Bioorganic Medical Chemistry Letters 203;13:79
“Glycans (good sugars) isolated from the fruit of Lycium barbarum”
J. Asian Natural Products Researach 1999;1:259
“Structural features of arabinogalactan-proteins (good sugars) from the fruit on Lycium barbarum”
J. Carbohydrate Research 2001:49:3101
“Alpha tocopherols (vitamin E) content in tropical plants (Lycium)”
J. Agricultural Food Chemistry 2001;49:3101
“Determine of Betine in Lycium”
J Chromatography A 1999;857:331
“New antihepatotoxic Cerebroside from Lycium”
J. Natural Products 1997;60:274
“Cyclic peptides, Acyclic diterpene glycosides in Lycium”
J Chemistry Pharmacology Bulletin 1993;43:703
“Zeaxanthin and Lutein pigments on Lycium”
J. Annals Super Sanita 1969;5:51
“The protective effects of total falvonoids from Lycium on lipid peroxidation of Liver mitochondria” J. Wei Sheng Yan Jiu 1999;28:115
“Determination of four fractions of Lycium polysaccharides”
J. Zhong Yao Cai 2001;24:107
“Physico-chemical properties and activity of blycoconjugate LbGp2 from lyceum barbarum”
J. Yao Wue Bao 2001;36:599
“Inhibiting dffects of Lycium barbarus polysaccharide on nonenzyme glucation”
J. Biomedical Environmental Science 2003;16:267
“Effect of Lycium on Defending free radicals of mice caused by hypoxia” (lack of oxygen)”
J. Wei Sheng Yan Jiu 2002;31:30
“Effect of wolfberry on DNA synthesis of the aging-youth 2BS fusion cells”
Zhongguo Zhohg WiYi He ZaZhi 2003;23:926
“Studies on chemical constituents in fruit of Lycium barbarum”
J. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi 2001:26:323
“Experimental research on the role of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide in anti-peroxidation” J. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi 1993:18:110
“Effect of Fructus Lycii on Mitochondrial DNA deletion, respiratory chain complexes and ATP synthesis in aged rats” J. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi 2001:21:437
“Anti-inflammatory effects of Fructus Lycii” J. Ethnopharmacology 2003;89:139
“A polysaccharide-protein complex from Lycium barbarum upregulates cytokine expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells” European J. Pharmacology 2003;27:217
“Isolation and purification of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide and its antifatigue effect” J. Wei Sheng Yan Jui 2000;29:115
“Antioxidant-rich diets improve cerebellar physiology and motor learning in aged rats” J. Brain Research 2000;866:211 (a study of berries, in general)
“Reversals of age-related declines in neuronal signal transduction, cognitive and motor behavioral deficits with blueberry, spinach or strawberry dietary supplementation” Neuroscience 1999;19:8114 (these foods raised Glutathione levels)
“Dietary antioxidant flavonoids and risk of coronary heart disease” J. Lancet 1993;342:1007 (Study of Quercetin found in Wolfberry)
“The effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide on vascular tension in twokidney one clip model of hypertension” J. Sheng Li Xue Bao 1998;40:309
“Studies on the glycoconjugates and glycans (polysaccharides) from Lycium barbarum in inhibiting LDL peroxidation” J. XaoXue Bao 2001;36:108
“Combination Fructus Lycii tablets in the treatment of hyperlipidemia” J. Traditional Chinese Medicine 1995:15:178 (LDL lowered 87%)
“Research in premature ovarian failure after therapy using Wolfberry (plus other antioxidants)” J. Chang Gung Medicine 2004:26:449
LLC, a crebroside from Lycium chinense, protects cultured rat hepatocytes exposed to glactosamine” J. Phytotherapy Research 2000;144348
Biological mechanism of the protective role of Lutein and Zeaanthin (found in Wolfverry) in the eye” J. Annual Review o f Nutrition 2003;23:171
Cancer:
“A study of the anti-cancer effect of Ningxia Wolfberry” J. Traditional Chinese Medicine 1989;9:117
“Observation of the effects of cancer therapy combined with Lycium barbarum polysaccharides in the treatment of 75 cancer patients” J. Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi 1994;16:428
“Advances in Immuno-pharmacology study of Lycium barbarum” J. Ahon Yao Cai 2000;23:295
“Effect of pure and crude Lycium barbarum polysaccharides on Immuno-pharmacology” J. Zhonghua Zhong Yao Cai 1999;22:246
“Inhibition of growth of human leukemia cells by Lycium varbarum polysaccharide” J. Wei Sheng Yan Jiu 2001;30:333
“The inhibition of effect of extracts of Fructus lycii on DNA breakage” by Alternariol J. Biomenical Environmental Science 1996;9:67
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