Chemical Characterization, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Goji Berries Cultivated in Serbia

A systematic UHPLC Q-ToF MS approach for the characterization of bioactive compounds from freeze-dried red goji berries (L. barbarum L.) grown in Serbia: Phenolic compounds and phenylamides

The aim of this study was to identify and characterise different classes of bioactive compounds from freeze-dried red goji berries (RGB) grown in Serbia, using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC Q-ToF MS). In addition, this study aims to demonstrate the importance of applying the advanced UHPLC Q-ToF MS technique in the identification of various biocompounds. The analysis showed the presence of 28 phenolic compounds, 3 organic acids, and 26 phenylamides. The 2-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-l-ascorbic acid (AA-2βG) was identified by UHPLC Q-ToF MS and quantified by standardised UHPLC-DAD method. Most of the compounds detected were derivatives of caffeic acid and ferulic acid, followed by quercetin derivatives. Among the phenylamides, several glucosylated caffeoyl and/or dihydrocaffeoyl derivatives of spermidine and spermine were characterized, confirming their recent characterization. Some glycosylated/non-glycosylated putrescine derivatives and caffeoyl-dihydrocaffeoyl-feruloyl spermidines were identified in goji berriesfor the first time. Their tentative structures and fragmentations were proposed.

Lycium ruthenicum Murray derived exosome-like nanovesicles inhibit Aβ-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells via MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways

Plant-derived exosome-like nanovesicles (ELNs) are nano-sized vesicles extracted from edible plants. Lycium ruthenicum Murray (LRM) has been gaining increasing attention due to its nutritional and medicinal value, but the ELNs in LRM has not been reported. In this study, LRM-ELNs were obtained, and the proteins, lipids, microRNAs (miRNAs) and active components in LRM tissues and LRM-ELNs was analyzed by LC-MS/MS, LC-MS, high-throughput sequencing techniques, and physical and chemical analysis. LRM-ELNs can be uptaken by PC12 cells through macropinocytosis and caveolin-mediated endocytosis primarily. Transcriptomic and western blot experiments indicate that LRM-ELNs can inhibit Aβ-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells through the MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways, with miRNAs playing a crucial role. These results indicate that LRM-ELNs have the protection effect on PC12 cells and can be considered as dietary supplements for alleviating neurodegenerative diseases.

Nutritional Value, Phytochemical Composition and Biological Activities of Lycium barbarum L. fruits from Serbia

Cultivation of goji berries (GB), fruits of Lycium barbarum L. (Solanaceae), is expanding worldwide, including in Europe. In this study, a comparative analysis of the nutritional value, chemical composition and in vitro biological activities of GB from different locations in Serbia was performed. Proximate compositions were evaluated according to standard methods. Minerals were assessed by inductively coupled plasma techniques, while fatty acids, sterols, and phenolic profiles were analyzed by gas- and liquid chromatography-based techniques coupled with flame-ionization, mass spectrometry, or diode array detection. The total content of phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids, and polysaccharides was assessed using spectrophotometric methods. Methanol extracts from GB were examined for their antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory (α-amylase, α-glucosidase, acetylcholinesterase and tyrosinase) and antibacterial activities. Despite significant variations among samples from different locations, the results confirmed that GB are a valuable source of dietary fiber and protein and are characterized by favorable fatty acid profiles. Phytochemical analysis revealed that β-sitosterol, Δ5-avenasterol, and 24-methyldesmosterol are the predominant sterols and caffeic acid, gallic acid, quercetin and rutin are the main phenols. All GB samples showed both antioxidant and mild antimicrobial activity. A dose-dependent anti-enzymatic activity (IC50 ranging 1.68-6.88 mg/mL) was demonstrated. The results support further promotion of GB cultivation in Serbia and further investigations on their potential applications in various industries.

Anticancer Therapies Based on Oxidative Damage: Lycium barbarum Inhibits the Proliferation of MCF-7 Cells by Activating Pyroptosis through Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

Lycium barbarum, commonly recognized as goji berry or wolfberry, is highly appreciated not only for its organoleptic and nutritional properties but also as an important source of bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, carotenoids, phenolics, and various other non-nutritive compounds. These constituents give it a multitude of health benefits, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. However, the precise biochemical mechanisms responsible for its anticancer effects remain unclear, and the comprehensive composition of goji berry extracts is often insufficiently explored. This study aimed to investigate the biochemical pathways modulated in breast cancer cells by an ethanolic extract of Lycium barbarum fruit (LBE). Following metabolomic profiling using UHPLC-HRMS/MS, we assessed the antitumoral properties of LBE on different breast cancer cell lines. This investigation revealed that LBE exhibited cytotoxic effects, inducing a pro-oxidant effect that triggered pyroptosis activation through endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and subsequent activation of the P-IRE1α/XBP1/NLRP3 axis in MCF-7 cells. In addition, LBE did not display cytotoxicity toward healthy human cells but demonstrated antioxidant properties by neutralizing ROS generated by doxorubicin. These findings underscore the potential of LBE as a highly promising natural extract in cancer therapy.

Development and Validation of a Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method for Screening Potential Citrate Lyase Inhibitors from a Library of Marine Compounds

Tuberculosis, a persistent illness caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, remains a significant global public health challenge. The widespread use of anti-tuberculosis drugs has resulted in the emergence of drug-resistant strains, which complicates treatment efforts. Addressing this issue is crucial and hinges on the development of new drugs that can effectively target the disease. This involves identifying novel therapeutic targets that can disrupt the bacterium's survival mechanisms in various environments such as granulomas and lesions. Citrate lyase, essential for the survival of Mycobacterium species at lesion sites and in granulomatous conditions, is a potential target for the treatment of tuberculosis. This manuscript aimed to construct an efficient enzyme inhibitor screening platform using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF MS). This system can accurately identify compounds with enzyme inhibitory activity from a library of marine terpenoids and phenolic compounds. Utilizing the screened herbal enzyme inhibitors as a starting point, we analyzed their chemical structures and skillfully built a library of marine compounds based on these structures. The results showed that all of the tested compounds from the phenolics library inhibited citrate lyase by more than 50%, and a significant portion of terpenoids also demonstrated inhibition, with these active terpenoids comprising over half of the terpenoids tested. The study underscores the potential of marine-derived phenolic and terpenoid compounds as potent inhibitors of citrate lyase, indicating a promising direction for future investigations in treating tuberculosis and associated disorders.

Comparative metabolomics combined with genome sequencing provides insights into novel wolfberry-specific metabolites and their formation mechanisms

Wolfberry (Lycium, of the family Solanaceae) has special nutritional benefits due to its valuable metabolites. Here, 16 wolfberry-specific metabolites were identified by comparing the metabolome of wolfberry with those of six species, including maize, rice, wheat, soybean, tomato and grape. The copy numbers of the riboflavin and phenyllactate degradation genes riboflavin kinase (RFK) and phenyllactate UDP-glycosyltransferase (UGT1) were lower in wolfberry than in other species, while the copy number of the phenyllactate synthesis gene hydroxyphenyl-pyruvate reductase (HPPR) was higher in wolfberry, suggesting that the copy number variation of these genes among species may be the main reason for the specific accumulation of riboflavin and phenyllactate in wolfberry. Moreover, the metabolome-based neighbor-joining tree revealed distinct clustering of monocots and dicots, suggesting that metabolites could reflect the evolutionary relationship among those species. Taken together, we identified 16 specific metabolites in wolfberry and provided new insight into the accumulation mechanism of species-specific metabolites at the genomic level.

Establishment of high performance liquid chromatographic fingerprint and determination of 4 kinds of phenolic acid bioactive substances of fruitless Lycium barbarum leaves from Ningxia at different harvesting periods

"Fruitless Lycium barbarum leaf (FLBL) are the leaves of a new variety of Lycium barbarum in Ningxia, which exhibit higher content of various nutrients, trace elements, and bioactive substances compared to Lycium barbarum fruits and leaves. However, the health and medicinal value as well as the by-products derived from FLBL have not received sufficient attention, and the contents of main components vary at different harvesting periods. Therefore, for the first time this study aimed to establish high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprints and determine the contents of four phenolic acid bioactive substances during different harvesting periods in order to provide an experimental basis for cultivation, collection, and research on FLBL. The results revealed 17 common peaks among 10 batches samples with a similarity ranging from 0.71 to 0.976. The linear relationships R2 for catechin, epicatechin-catechin, chlorogenic acid, and rutin were determined as 0.9999 each; meanwhile, the average recovery rate ranged from 93.92 % to 120.11 %, with an RSD between 0.91 % and 2.82 %. The precision, repeatability stability (24 h), and recovery rate met the requirements outlined in "Chinese Pharmacopoeia". Catechin, epicatechin, and rutin exhibited higher levels from June to August, while chlorogenic acid showed increased levels from July to September. The findings serve as a foundation for quality control measures such as identifying optimal harvest periods or facilitating development and production processes related to Ningxia FLBL."

Bioactive Components of Lycium barbarum and Deep-Processing Fermentation Products

Lycium barbarum, a homology of medicine and food, contains many active ingredients including polysaccharides, polyphenol, betaine, and carotenoids, which has health benefits and economic value. The bioactive components in Lycium barbarum exhibit the effects of antioxidation, immune regulation, hypoglycemic effects, and vision improvement. Recently, the development of nutrition and health products of Lycium barbarum has been paid more and more attention with the increase in health awareness. A variety of nutrients and bioactive components in wolfberry can be retained or increased using modern fermentation technology. Through fermentation, the products have better flavor and health function, which better meet the needs of market diversification. The main products related to wolfberry fermentation include wolfberry fruit wine, wolfberry fruit vinegar, and lactic acid fermented beverage. In this review, the mainly bioactive components of Lycium barbarum and its deep-processing products of fermentation were summarized and compared. It will provide reference for the research and development of fermented and healthy products of Lycium barbarum.

Endophytic fungi of Lycium barbarum: isolation, determination, bioactivity and separation of compounds

Lycium barbarum is widely distributed in China and used as a traditional Chinese medicine herb to treat dizziness, abdominal pain, dry cough, headache and fatigue. Several studies have examined the endophytes of L. barbarum from northwest China; however, few have focused on that from eastern China. The objective of this study was to isolate and determine the endophytic fungi of L. barbarum from Shandong province, as well as to obtain and identify active secondary metabolites from the endophytes. In this study, 17 endophytic fungi were isolated from L. barbarum and denoted as GQ-1 to GQ-17, respectively. These fungi were further classified into ten genera based on the morphological and ITS identification. The crude extracts of these fungi were obtained by using liquid fermentation and EtOAc extraction, and their antibacterial, cytotoxic, and antioxidant activities were evaluated. The results showed that GQ-6 and GQ-16 exhibited high inhibitory activity; GQ-6 and GQ-9 showed high cytotoxic activity and GQ-5 exhibited high scavenging capability for DPPH free radicals. Additionally, Cladosporium sp. GQ-6 was used to investigate the secondary metabolites. The crude extracts were purified by using column chromatography, reverse column, and liquid chromatography, and four monomeric compounds were identified, including two known compounds (α-acetylorcinol (1) and cladosporester B (2)) and two new compounds (cladosporacid F (3) and cladosporester D (4)). The anti-fungal and antibacterial activities of these compounds were confirmed, but no cytotoxic activity was observed. In conclusion, endophytic fungi of L. barbarum from eastern China can serve as a potential source of active natural products with antibacterial and antioxidant properties.

Integrated Metabolome and Transcriptome during Fruit Development Reveal Metabolic Differences and Molecular Basis between Lycium barbarum and Lycium ruthenicum

Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) is a traditional cash crop in China and is well-known worldwide for its outstanding nutritional and medicinal value. Lycium ruthenicum is a close relative of Lycium barbarum but differs significantly in size, color, flavor and nutritional composition. To date, the metabolic differences between the fruits of the two wolfberry varieties and the genetic basis behind them are unclear. Here, we compared metabolome and transcriptome data of two kinds of wolfberry fruits at five stages of development. Metabolome results show that amino acids, vitamins and flavonoids had the same accumulation pattern in various developmental stages of fruit but that Lycium ruthenicum accumulated more metabolites than Lycium barbarum during the same developmental stage, including L-glutamate, L-proline, L-serine, abscisic acid (ABA), sucrose, thiamine, naringenin and quercetin. Based on the metabolite and gene networks, many key genes that may be involved in the flavonoid synthesis pathway in wolfberry were identified, including PAL, C4H, 4CL, CHS, CHI, F3H, F3'H and FLS. The expression of these genes was significantly higher in Lycium ruthenicum than in Lycium barbarum, indicating that the difference in the expression of these genes was the main reason for the variation in flavonoid accumulation between Lycium barbarum and Lycium ruthenicum. Taken together, our results reveal the genetic basis of the difference in metabolomics between Lycium barbarum and Lycium ruthenicum and provide new insights into the flavonoid synthesis of wolfberry.

Improving flavor, bioactivity, and changing metabolic profiles of goji juice by selected lactic acid bacteria fermentation

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have exhibited strain/species specificity for different food matrices. We investigated the impact of LAB fermentation on the flavor, chemical profile, and bioactivity of goji juice. The colony counts of five selected strains reached above 8.5 log CFU/mL. The fermentation increased the organic acids, decreased the sugars, and improved the sensory quality of goji juice. The majority of the strains had increased acetic acid, heptanoic acid, ethyl phenylacetate, and linalool levels. Specific strains suppressed α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase activities and increased the antioxidant activities of fermented goji juice. Based on non-targeted metabolomics and activities, 23 important differential metabolites were screened among 453 metabolites. The quantification results showed that isoquercitrin and m-coumaric content varied among strains, reflecting the strain specificity in flavone and flavonol biosynthesis and phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis. These findings will provide useful information for fermented goji juice biochemistry research.

Microbial Diversity and Bioactive Compounds in Dried Lycium barbarum Fruits (Goji): A Comparative Study

This study compares the microbial diversity and content of bioactive compounds in dried goji berries available on the Polish market to those of the most highly valued goji berries from the Ningxia region in China. The content of phenols, flavonoids, and carotenoids were determined, as well as the antioxidant capacities of the fruits. The quantitative and qualitative composition of the microbiota inhabiting the fruits was assessed using metagenomics by high-throughput sequencing on the Illumina platform. The highest quality was demonstrated by naturally dried fruits from the Ningxia region. These berries were characterized by a high content of polyphenols and high antioxidant activity, as well as high microbial quality. The lowest antioxidant capacity was shown by goji berries cultivated in Poland. However, they contained a high amount of carotenoids. The highest microbial contamination was found in the goji berries available in Poland (>10⁶ CFU/g), which is important in terms of consumer safety. Despite the widely accepted benefits of consuming goji berries, both the country of cultivation and the preservation method may influence their composition, bioactivity, and microbial quality.

Differences Due to Sex and Sweetener on the Bioavailability of (Poly)phenols in Urine Samples: A Machine Learning Approach

Metabolic diseases have been related to the overdrinking of high-sugar content beverages. As a result, the demand for alternative formulations based on plant-based ingredients with health-promoting properties has increased during the last few years. Nonetheless, the design and production of effective formulations requires understanding the bioavailability of these compounds. For this purpose, a two-month longitudinal trial with 140 volunteers was conducted to measure the beneficial effects of a maqui-citrus beverage, rich in (poly)phenols. From data obtained by quantifying metabolites present in urine samples, biostatistical and machine learning (data imputation, feature selection, and clustering) methods were applied to assess whether a volunteer's sex and the sweetener added to the beverage (sucrose, sucralose, or stevia) affected the bioavailability of (poly)phenol metabolites. Several metabolites have been described as being differentially influenced: 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and naringenin with its derivatives were positively influenced by stevia and men, while eriodictyol sulfate and homoeridictyol glucunoride concentrations were enhanced with stevia and women. By examining groups of volunteers created by clustering analysis, patterns in metabolites' bioavailability distribution as a function of sex and/or sweeteners (or even due to an uncontrolled factor) were also discovered. These results underline the potential of stevia as a (poly)phenol bioavailability enhancer. Furthermore, they also evidence sex affects the bioavailability of (poly)phenols, pointing at a sex-dependent metabolic pathway regulation.

Encapsulation and antibacterial studies of goji berry and garlic extract in the biodegradable chitosan

As known, the chitosan is a biodegradable biopolymer with antibacterial properties, therefore it is used in the fields of pharmacy, medical, wastewater treatment, biotechnology, cosmetics, textiles, and agriculture. Apart from these, the chitosan has an important place in the food industry with its widespread use. In this research article, the chitosan were encapsulated with the taurine and garlic extracts by the spray dryer. The CSA and CSB compounds synthesized as final products were analyzed by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The effect of the encapsulation process on the molecular weight of the polymer structure was investigated using the cryoscopy method. The compound CSA represents 1/2 encapsulation of chitosan with taurine and increased garlic extracts, respectively, while CSB represents 1/1 encapsulation of chitosan with increased taurine and fixed garlic extracts. The % antioxidant activity of the final products was determined by DDPH method. The inhibition zone and surface activity proporties of the CSA and CSB were carried out against Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, and Salmonella bacteria. The results obtained as a result of the analyzes were evaluated, and optimum values were determined for use in food packaging.

Effect of Different Drying Techniques on Total Bioactive Compounds and Individual Phenolic Composition in Goji Berries

In recent years, interest in the consumption of dried goji berries has increased due to its high bioactive properties. Alternative drying methods that provide faster drying and better preservation of bioactive properties should be developed. This study aims to investigate the effect of different drying methods on the drying time and quality characteristics of the goji berry; namely, hot-air drying (HAD), ultrasound-assisted vacuum drying (USVD), vacuum drying (VD), freeze-drying (FD), and ultrasound-pretreated freeze-drying (USFD). The drying kinetic, total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, phenolic profile, carotenoid profile, and color change of the goji berry fruit were determined. The drying times for VD, USVD, and HAD varied between 275–1330 min. USVD treatment showed faster drying behavior than the other two drying methods. The total phenolic content (TPC) value of dry samples varied between 1002.53–1238.59 mg GAE/g DM. USVD treatments exhibited a higher total phenolic content (TPC) value than all other drying methods. DPPH and CUPRAC values varied between 15.70–29.90 mg TE/g DM and 40.98–226.09 mg TE/g DM, respectively. The total color change (ΔE) value ranged between 4.59 and 23.93 and HAD dried samples showed the highest ΔE of all samples. The results of the phenolic profile were consistent with TPC analysis. HAD caused higher phenolic compound degradation than VD, USVD, and FD. The results of this study showed that different drying techniques significantly affected the drying rate and retention of bioactive components of the goji berry fruit, and the USVD and VD methods could be used as an alternative to the HAD method. This study concluded that USVD and FD could be considered as suitable drying methods and could be used as alternatives to HAD in the drying of goji berries.

Lycium barbarum Berries (Solanaceae) as Source of Bioactive Compounds for Healthy Purposes: A Review

Lycium barbarum L. is a species widely used in dietary supplements and natural healthcare products. The berries, also known as goji or wolfberries, mostly grow in China, but recent reports on their outstanding bioactive properties have increased their popularity and cultivation around the world. Goji berries are a remarkable source of phenolic compounds (such as phenolic acids and flavonoids), carotenoids, organic acids, carbohydrates (fructose and glucose), and vitamins (ascorbic acid). Several biological activities, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, prebiotic, and anticancer activities, have been associated with its consumption. Hence, goji berries were highlighted as an excellent source of functional ingredients with promising applications in food and nutraceutical fields. This review aims to summarize the phytochemical composition and biological activities, along with various industrial applications, of L. barbarum berries. Simultaneously, the valorization of goji berries by-products, with its associated economic advantages, will be emphasized and explored.

Ciabatta Bread Incorporating Goji (Lycium barbarum L.): A New Potential Functional Product with Impact on Human Health

This work investigated the phytochemical content and bioactivity of Lycium barbarum collected in Calabria and evaluated, for the first time, the possibility of enriching traditional ciabatta bread with goji fresh flesh puree. For this purpose, goji flesh puree, bread, and bread enriched with 20% and 40% goji flesh puree (G20 and G40 samples, respectively) were subjected to several analyses. Selected compounds were quantified by UHPLC analysis in both goji fresh flesh puree and after simulation of the cooking process. The impact of the addition on key enzymes (lipase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase) related to metabolic syndrome was assessed together with the antioxidant properties. Texture, colourimetric, and sensory analyses on enriched bread were performed to evaluate consumer acceptance. Despite cooking, the enriched bread maintained good levels of bioactive compounds compared to the berry pulp alone (p < 0.01). The enriched bread showed the ability to protect against lipid peroxidation, with IC50 values of 6.88 and 6.52 μg/mL for samples G20 and G40, respectively, after incubation for 30 min (p < 0.01). Although less active than the control, the enriched bread showed inhibitory activities against the enzymes involved in the digestion of carbohydrates. From a sensory point of view, the addition of goji fresh pulp puree slightly modified the appearance but not the flavour and taste of the bread. Collectively, our results support the potential healthy function of this baked product.

A Comprehensive Chemical and Nutritional Analysis of New Zealand Yacon Concentrate

Global interest in yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) is growing due to its potential as a functional food, attributable to its unique profile of bioactives and high fructooligosaccharide (FOS) content, which vary between cultivars. Our objective was to conduct a comprehensive chemical and nutritional analysis of New Zealand yacon concentrate (NZYC)-a sweet syrup derived from the roots of cultivar 'New Zealand', which was first grown in the 1980s. The major minerals in NZYC were potassium, phosphorus, and calcium. The FOS content ranged from 17.6 to 52.7 g/100g. Total phenolic content ranged from 565 to 785 mg gallic acid equivalents per 100 g; chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid were the major phenolic compounds. The major amino acids were L-arginine, L-glutamic acid, L-proline, L-aspartic acid, and asparagine. The major organic acids were citric, malic, quinic, and fumaric acids. Antioxidant activity ranged from 1084.14 to 3085.78 mg Trolox equivalents per 100 g depending on the assay used. The glycaemic index (GI) value was 40 ± 0.22, classifying it as a low-GI food. These results support the classification of NZYC as a nutraceutical food product for future diet therapy applications.

Effects of Lycium barbarum L. Polysaccharides on Vascular Retinopathy: An Insight Review

Vascular retinopathy is a pathological change in the retina caused by ocular or systemic vascular diseases that can lead to blurred vision and the risk of blindness. Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs) are extracted from the fruit of traditional Chinese medicine, L. barbarum. They have strong biological activities, including immune regulation, antioxidation, and neuroprotection, and have been shown to improve vision in numerous studies. At present, there is no systematic literature review of LBPs on vascular retinal prevention and treatment. We review the structural characterization and extraction methods of LBPs, focus on the mechanism and pharmacokinetics of LBPs in improving vascular retinopathy, and discuss the future clinical application and lack of work. LBPs are involved in the regulation of VEGF, Rho/ROCK, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, Nrf2/HO-1, AGEs/RAGE signaling pathways, which can alleviate the occurrence and development of vascular retinal diseases in an inflammatory response, oxidative stress, apoptosis, autophagy, and neuroprotection. LBPs are mainly absorbed by the small intestine and stomach and excreted through urine and feces. Their low bioavailability in vivo has led to the development of novel dosage forms, including multicompartment delivery systems and scaffolds. Data from the literature confirm the medicinal potential of LBPs as a new direction for the prevention and complementary treatment of vascular retinopathy.

Health Benefits and Applications of Goji Berries in Functional Food Products Development: A Review

Goji berries have long been used for their nutritional value and medicinal purposes in Asian countries. In the last two decades, goji berries have become popular around the world and are consumed as a functional food due to wide-range bioactive compounds with health-promoting properties. In addition, they are gaining increased research attention as a source of functional ingredients with potential industrial applications. This review focuses on the antioxidant properties of goji berries, scientific evidence on their health effects based on human interventional studies, safety concerns, goji berry processing technologies, and applications of goji berry-based ingredients in developing functional food products.

Prebiotic effects of goji berry in protection against inflammatory bowel disease

The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing, which is concerning because IBD is a known risk factor for the development of colorectal cancer. Emerging evidence highlights environmental factors, particularly dietary factors and gut microbiota dysbiosis, as pivotal inducers of IBD onset. Goji berry, an ancient tonic food and a nutraceutical supplement, contains a range of phytochemicals such as polysaccharides, carotenoids, and polyphenols. Among these phytochemicals, L. barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs) are the most important functional constituents, which have protective effects against oxidative stress, inflammation, and neurodegeneration. Recently, the beneficial effects of goji berry and associated LBPs consumption were linked to prebiotic effects, which can prevent dysbiosis associated with IBD. This review assessed pertinent literature on the protective effects of goji berry against IBD focusing on the gut microbiota and their metabolites in mediating the observed beneficial effects.

Metabolomic Profiling of Fresh Goji (Lycium barbarum L.) Berries from Two Cultivars Grown in Central Italy: A Multi-Methodological Approach

The metabolite profile of fresh Goji berries from two cultivars, namely Big Lifeberry (BL) and Sweet Lifeberry (SL), grown in the Lazio region (Central Italy) and harvested at two different periods, August and October, corresponding at the beginning and the end of the maturation, was characterized by means of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (ESI FT-ICR MS) methodologies. Several classes of compounds such as sugars, amino acids, organic acids, fatty acids, polyphenols, and terpenes were identified and quantified in hydroalcoholic and organic Bligh-Dyer extracts. Sweet Lifeberry extracts were characterized by a higher content of sucrose with respect to the Big Lifeberry ones and high levels of amino acids (glycine, betaine, proline) were observed in SL berries harvested in October. Spectrophotometric analysis of chlorophylls and total carotenoids was also carried out, showing a decrease of carotenoids during the time. These results can be useful not only to valorize local products but also to suggest the best harvesting period to obtain a product with a chemical composition suitable for specific industrial use. Finally, preliminary studies regarding both the chemical characterization of Goji leaves generally considered a waste product, and the biological activity of Big Lifeberry berries extracts was also investigated. Goji leaves showed a chemical profile rich in healthy compounds (polyphenols, flavonoids, etc.) confirming their promising use in the supplements/nutraceutical/cosmetic field. MG63 cells treated with Big Lifeberry berries extracts showed a decrease of iNOS, COX-2, IL-6, and IL-8 expression indicating their significant biological activity.

Biochemical characterization of fruits of Lycium spp. in Ukraine

Fruits of Lycium possess therapeutic properties due to which they are used in traditional and folk medicine and can be used as a kind of functional food. The objective of this study was to evaluate the biochemical characterization of Lycium L. (L. barbarum L., L. chinense Mill. and L. truncatum Y. C. Wang) fruits for 16 cultivars and varieties from the collections in the M. M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of NAS of Ukraine (Kyiv). This study was aimed at determining the concentration of nutrients in the Lycium fruits. Individual genotypes of three Lycium species: L. barbarum, L.chinense, and L. truncatum, differed in such features as the content of dry matter, sugars, vitamin C, β-carotene, acidity, and tannins in the fruit. Fruits of Lycium spp. are a valuable source of nutrients such as vitamin C (4.38–121.0 mg 100g–1 FW), β-carotene content (1.45–5.52%), and tannin (0.12–1.34%). The sugar content (13.83–20.87%) and acidity of the fruit (0.23–4.62%) meet the consumers' requirements for fresh fruit. The cultivar Amber Sweet (L. chinense) had fruits of which the similarities between biochemical characteristics of different studies genotypes were the lowest. The cv. Amber Sweet was characterized by fruit with high sugar content, very high vitamin C content, average acid content, low tannins and β-carotene content, and the lowest dry matter content. Furthermore, a distinctive feature of the other tested genotypes was the yellow colour of the fruit. The data obtained can be used for further selective work.