Abstract

LYCIUM BARBARUM (GOJI BERRY) AND ITS EFFECTS IN HEALTH LYCIUM BARBARUM AND HEALTH

Marcela Bueno, Mariana Ricci Barion, Sandra Maria Barbalho*, Élen Landgraf Guiuer

Abstract

Lycium barbarum or gojy berry (or wolfberry) is a plant popularly known for its benefits to the health, including hypoglicemic effects, body weight control and as anti-cancer. The purpose of this review was to investigate the properties and medicinal applications of L. barbarum. Although there are still many characteristics that need to be studied about this plant, several benefic effects have been reported. Literature shows that there are several compounds in gojy berry that may prevent oxidant and inflammatory process, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia and obesity. We suggest that this plant should be more researched in order to evaluate the possibility of application in the pharmaceutical industry and to obtain enough information to consider validation for its medicinal use.

Keywords: Lycium barbarum, oxidative stress, inflammation, weight control, hhyperglycemia.