| The latin name of Wolfberry fruit is Fructus | | | | B-ergosteriod, iron, and trace elements |
| Lycii. Wolfberry fruit is used extensively in | | | | essential to the body, including zinc, |
| Chinese herbalism. The fruits are the berries | | | | copper, selenium, calcium, and phosphorus. |
| of Lycium chinense and more commonly Lycium | | | | |
| barbarum. The roots also have healing | | | | Wolfberry fruit has the effects of enhancing |
| properties. Native to East Asia and Europe, | | | | phagocytosis (uptake of material, such as |
| it grows wild on hillsides in the cooler | | | | microorganisms or cell fragments into a cell) |
| regions of northern China and Europe. | | | | of the reticuloendothelial system (including |
| However, it is also grown as a cultivated | | | | the fixed macrophages of tissues, liver and |
| plant in almost all parts of China and in | | | | spleen), increasing peripheral white blood |
| some other regions of Asia, as well as | | | | cells, enhancing humoral and cellular |
| naturalized in Britain, the Middle East and | | | | immunity and promoting hematopoietic (give |
| North America. | | | | rise to distinct daughter blood cells) |
| | | | function. |
| Wolfberry fruit is a shrub that grows to | | | | |
| about 2.5 m by 2 m at a medium rate. It is in | | | | Betaine, a biological stimulant, has the |
| flower from June to August, and the seeds | | | | effects of stimulating growth, reducing blood |
| ripen from August to October. The flowers are | | | | sugar and blood lipid, inhibiting the fat |
| hermaphrodite (have both male and female | | | | deposition in liver cells and promoting the |
| organs) and are pollinated by bees. The plant | | | | regeneration of liver cells. The herb has the |
| can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no | | | | cholinomimetic effects of reducing blood |
| shade. It requires moist soil. The plant can | | | | pressure, inhibiting the heart, exciting |
| tolerate maritime exposure. | | | | intestines, and has estrogen-like effects. |
| | | | |
| In China, the best wolfberry fruits are | | | | It was demonstrated that this fruit yields a |
| produced in the provinces Ningxia, Gansu and | | | | prominent action in protecting the liver from |
| Qinghai. Its tender leaves are edible and the | | | | lipid accumulation. When mice were poisoned |
| fruits and roots are used as medicinal foods. | | | | with CC1 in the laboratory, those receiving |
| The bright red berries are usually harvested | | | | administration of extracts from this fruit |
| in late summer or early autumn when the fruit | | | | yielded no liver function impairment, while |
| is mature, dried in the shade until the | | | | the control group, which received no |
| cortex is wrinkled, and dried in the sun | | | | protection, were mostly poisoned and killed. |
| until the fruit is crusted with the pulp | | | | |
| still soft. It is used unprepared. The roots | | | | In Chinese medicine, the liver is associated |
| are usually harvested in the spring, although | | | | with the function of the eyes. Wolfberry |
| they can be dug any time of the year. The | | | | fruit is used as a liver tonic to brighten |
| roots can be used either fresh or dried. | | | | the eyes, improve poor eyesight, treat |
| | | | blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and |
| It is also called Lycium Fruit, Matrimony | | | | other general eye weaknesses. |
| Vine Fruit, Chinese Desertthorn Fruit, Box | | | | |
| Thorn Fruit and Chinese Wolfberry Fruit. | | | | One of the qualities ascribed to wolfberry |
| | | | root is that it "cools the blood." It is used |
| It has sweet in flavor, mild in nature; it is | | | | to reduce fever and to treat other conditions |
| related to the liver, kidney and lung | | | | of "excess heat." These include traditional |
| channels. | | | | uses to relieve excess sweating, stop |
| | | | nosebleeds, reduce vomiting, and treat |
| The first recorded use of wolfberry fruit as | | | | dizziness. |
| a medicinal herb is from the first century | | | | |
| A.D. For thousands of years it is used as | | | | Some herbalists use a tea made of wolfberry |
| both a yin tonic for liver and kidney, and as | | | | root and Scutellaria (skullcap or Huang Qin) |
| a blood tonic. | | | | to treat morning sickness in pregnant women. |
| | | | Wolfberry is also used to treat certain types |
| Wolfberry fruit possesses an action | | | | of coughs and asthma. |
| antagonistic to fat deposition, especially in | | | | |
| the liver. So it is often applied in obese | | | | Wolfberry fruit has been shown to inhibit |
| patients and in liver disease with lipidosis. | | | | gene mutation and the growth of cancer cells. |
| It lowers the level of blood sugar and is | | | | |
| beneficial to diabetes. | | | | Other studies from China show an extract from |
| | | | wolfberry fruit inhibits the gene mutation |
| It has the properties to treat aching and | | | | induced by TA98 and TA100 (16). Some |
| general weakness due to deficient kidney, | | | | scientists believe that wolfberry fruit may |
| manifesting dizziness, impaired eyesight, | | | | be a very good supplement to prevent liver |
| tinnitus (ringing noise in the ears), | | | | cancer because it exerts liver protection and |
| impotence, weak waist and knee; to treat weak | | | | anticancer effects at the same time. |
| or blurred vision due to yin deficiency of | | | | |
| the liver and kidney. | | | | Another study from China found wolfberries |
| | | | exerts hepaprotection through inhibiting the |
| Wolfberry fruit is often used in combination | | | | lipid peroxidation of liver cells in aging |
| with rehmannia root, dodder seed, dogwood | | | | mice. |
| fruit and other herbs for tonifying the liver | | | | |
| and kidney. | | | | Wolfberries help to repair liver cell injury |
| | | | induced by CCl4 and facilitate recovery from |
| The food-herb is often used in combination | | | | hepatic necrosis. |
| with chrysanthemum flower, rehmannia root, | | | | |
| Chinese yam and other herbs for nourishing | | | | A study in China showed wolfberries |
| yin and improving vision, such as Qi Ju | | | | facilitated stem cell proliferation and |
| Dihuang Pill. | | | | increased the number of monocytes in bone |
| | | | marrow. Wolfberries help the monocytes to |
| To treat diabetes mellitus (relative or | | | | convert to matured leukocytes. |
| absolute lack of insulin leading to | | | | |
| uncontrolled carbohydrate metabolism) | | | | Wolfberry fruits were very popular for their |
| | | | vision improvement properties in ancient |
| Wolfberry fruit is rich in carotene, vitamins | | | | China. Modern Chinese scientists found |
| B1, B12 and C. The fruit also contains amino | | | | wolfberry fruits reduce dark adapting time |
| acids, zeaxanthin, betaine, physalien, | | | | and improve vision under subdued light. |