Goji berry Side effects and warnings. Goji berry is considered safe with mild side effects such as vomitting and nausea

Scientific Name: Lycium Barbarum

Other Names: Wolfberry, Chinese Goji berry, mede berry, barbary matrimony vine, bocksdorn, Duke of Argyll’s tea tree, Murali, red medlar, or matrimony vine.

Goji berry (also known as goji berry) is a woody perennial plant native to Asia and Southeastern Europe. Goji berry is a popular Chinese herb used for over 2000 years as a health tonic that promotes longevity.

Goji berry is deciduous woody perennial plants that grow about 3 m high. The leaves are lanceolate, alternate or in bundles about 7 cm in length and 3.5 cm width. The Goji berry flowers bloom from June to September in groups. The calyx consists of bell-shaped sepals forming short triangular lobes, the corolla about 10 cm wide are lavender or light purple. The flowers are followed by berry-like fruits about 5 – 10 cm wide, bright red to orange red in color with about 20 to 30 yellow seeds depending on cultivars

Goji berry has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine as a general health tonic that promotes varieties of health benefits including longevity, sexual stimulant, analgesic, antibacterial, improvement of visual acuity, stronger muscle and as an immune system booster.

Recent medicinal uses and claimed health benefits include treatment for diabetes, oxidative stress, liver damage, cancer and vision degeneration.

Anti Inflammatory and Anti-angiogenic Benefits of Goji berry.

The Food and Function July 2012, reported about the anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic effects of flavonoids isolated from Lycium barbarum Linnaeus on human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The study reported that the flavonoids extract attenuated the intracellular adhesion of inflammation causing compounds. It also exhibit anti-angiogenic effect, preventing the creation of new blood vessels as well as inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22751795

Anti Cancer Benefits of Goji berry

The Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture June 2012 reported that Lycium barbarum polysaccharide inhibits the proliferation of HeLa cells by inducing apoptosis.
The results of a study suggest that Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP), the most important constituent of Goji berry can inhibit the proliferation of HeLa cells by inducing apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. The results showed that Goji berry constituent LBP can be developed as a potential chemotherapeutic agent candidate against human cervical cancer. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22696075

Neuroprotective Effects of Goji berry

The journal PLoS One. Issue 2012, reported that Lycium barbarum extracts protect the brain from blood-brain barrier disruption and cerebral edema in experimental stroke.
Ischemic stroke is a destructive cerebrovascular disease and a leading cause of death.
Results from the study suggests that a seven day oral LBP pre-treatment of mice subjects effectively improved neurological deficits, decreased infarct size and cerebral edema as well as protected the brain from blood-brain barrier disruption, aquaporin-4 up-regulation, and glial activation. The present study suggests that LBP may be used as a prophylactic neuroprotectant in patients at high risk for ischemic stroke.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22438957

In another study the neuroprotective effects of polysaccharides from Goji berry provide protection against homocysteine-induced toxicity in rat cortical neurons. Suggesting that Goji berry has potential in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20157238

Anti Fatigue and Anti oxidative stress Benefits of Goji berry

The International Journal of Molecular Sciences, February 2011 reported a study done in Zhejiang University, China on the effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) on exercise-induced oxidative stress in rats. Results have shown that rats given Goji berry LBP exhibited a prolonged endurance under exhaustive exercise compared to normal control group. This is indicative that LBP can prevent oxidative stress after exhaustive exercise.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21541044

Anti Cancer Benefits of Goji berry

The Med Oncol March 2011 reported a study made in Ningbo University, China about the anticancer effects of Goji berry polysaccharide on colon cancer. The study demonstrated the inhibiting effects of Goji berry polysaccharide against colon cancer cell lines in a dose dependent manner. The study suggests that Goji berry can be used as an anti cancer agent to interrupt cell cycle in human carcinoma cells.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20066520

Benefits to Sexual Performance of Goji berry Extract

Goji berry has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of infertility and sexual dysfunction. A study has been done to investigate this use in the University of Hong Kong, PRC as published in PLoS One, 2012 issue, where a group of rats were given Goji berry LBP for 21 days. Results have shown that there is an s significant improvement in the male copulatory performance including increase of copulatory efficiency, increase of ejaculation frequency and shortening of ejaculation latency in male rats. Furthermore, sexual inhibition caused by chronic corticosterone was prevented by Goji berry LBP. This study suggests that Goji berry can increase sexual performance in rats and recommended further studies in human subjects.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22523540

Weight Loss Benefits of Goji berry Juice

A study done in FreeLife International Inc. Phoenix Arizona as published in the journal of the American College of Nutrition, Oct 2011 reported that Goji berry has been shown to increase metabolic rate and to reduce body-weight gains as well as to produce clinical improvements in general feelings of well-being including energy level. Results have shown that the daily intake of 120 ml standardized Goji berry juice cam reduce the waist circumference and increase metabolic rates on humans relative to placebo control group.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22081616

Health Benefits of Goji berry for Diabetes

The African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative. July 2009 reported a study done in Quijing Normal University, Yunnan, China, about the benefits of polysaccharides extracted from Goji berry in hypoglycemic rats. Results of the study showed that various parameters including body weight, fasting blood glucose levels, total cholesterol and triglyceride in diabetic mice have significantly improved when given 40 mg/kg body weight of Goji berry extract.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20606780

Anti Oxidant Benefits from Goji berry.

In a study done in College of Public Health, Wuhan China reported that Goji berry polysaccharides extracts were found to possess strong antioxidant activity in a study involving rabbits. Goji berry has been found to contain antioxidants such as carotenoids, riboflavin, ascorbic acid, thiamine, nicotinic acid and others that exhibited increased radical oxygen absorption. This study published in Life Science, November 2004 confirmed the antioxidant benefits from Goji berry.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15519360

Eye Health Benefits from Goji berry

A study made in the University of Michigan suggests that Goji berry can provide health benefits against macular degeneration that is associated to blindness due to ageing. Goji berry is rich in carotenoid, known as zeaxanthin that is known to improve the function of the retina.

Wolfberries are available from Chinese medical shops or in the traditional medicine chains of major shopping centers.

Wolfberries can be bought fresh or dried. But the best wolfberries are those that are bright red colored, plump ones.

Goji berry is also available in tablets and liquid extract forms.

Goji berry can be chewed, cooked with other vegetables or meat. Or can be made as soup or tea.

To make Goji berry tea, boil 15grms of Goji berry for every cup of water. Consume everything while warm.

Goji berry can also be made into wine. To make Goji berry wine, mix 200 grams of Goji berry for every 1 liter of Chinese cooking wine. Seal and let it ferment for 30 days before using.

According to most Chinese herbalists, the recommended uptake of Goji berry is about 10 to 15 grams per day. Or you can follow the advice of a competent medical practioner or what is recommended in the product label

• Goji berry is considered safe when taken by mouth for most people.
• Goji berry may cause minor side effects such as nausea and vomiting.
• Goji berry is not safe for pregnant and breast feeding mothers because it contains a compound called betaine that may cause miscarriage.
• Goji berry has a blood pressure lowering effects that can compound other medications taken to lower blood pressure.
• Goji berry can lower blood sugar levels and can compound other medications for diabetes.
• Goji berry can interact with warfarin, a blood thinning drug and may cause bleeding side effects or bruising.