Lycium chinense Miller, a perennial woody plant of the Lycium genus in the Solanaceae family, is known as the “Chinese treasure medicine” in China. Its branches are thin and weak, curved or drooping in a bow shape, its leaves are oval shaped, its color is light purple, and its fruit is a red oval berry. Goji berries are widely distributed in China, especially in temperate and subtropical regions, commonly found on mountain slopes, roadsides, or village edges. Ningxia wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.), as one of the best, is highly regarded for its unique medicinal and nutritional value.
The Origin and Distribution of Goji Berry
Goji berries originated in China. According to the “Ben Jing”, Goji berries have various medicinal effects, such as eliminating evil qi in the five organs, relieving heat and thirst, and treating Zhou Bi and rheumatism. Goji berries are mostly distributed in most provinces and regions in northern China, especially in Ningxia where they have a long history of cultivation. Ningxia wolfberry is wild distributed in northwest China and concentrated in the highlands and foothills of the Yellow River from Qinghai to Shanxi. In addition, goji berries also have strong environmental adaptability, drought resistance, cold resistance, and salt alkali resistance. They can grow in arid desert and saline alkali land, and are most suitable for cultivation in deep and fertile loam soil.
The nutritional value and health benefits of goji berries
Goji berries are a nutritious medicinal and edible plant, rich in nutrients such as vitamin C, beta carotene, and goji polysaccharides. Vitamin C has antioxidant properties, which can eliminate free radicals in the body and delay skin oxidative aging; β – carotene helps protect the eyes, relieve eye fatigue, and prevent myopia; Lycium barbarum polysaccharides can enhance the human immune system and resist fatigue. In addition, goji berries also have various health benefits such as improving eyesight, supplementing nutrition, and providing energy.
Cultivation and Propagation of Goji Berry
Goji berries have a long history of cultivation, propagated through seeds or cuttings. High quality varieties such as Ningxia wolfberry have strong environmental adaptability and can grow in various soil conditions, especially in environments with sufficient sunlight and large temperature differences between day and night, where they grow vigorously and accumulate more sugar. In recent years, with the development of molecular biology, researchers have also been exploring the relationship between wild goji berries and cultivated goji berries through molecular means, in order to further explore and utilize goji berry germplasm resources.
Application and Research of Goji Berry
Goji berries are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, dietary therapy, and health products. Its medicinal value has been recorded in ancient books such as the “Shennong Bencao Jing” and is considered a precious traditional Chinese medicine. Modern scientific research is constantly revealing the miraculous effects of goji berries, such as anti fatigue and anti-aging assistance. In addition, goji berries can also be used for courtyard cultivation and ornamental purposes, and are one of the tree species for afforestation in sandy areas
