FolkKB

Lycium barbarum

Lycium barbarum

Lycium barbarum, commonly known as goji berry, is a plant utilized within various traditional medicine systems. It has been traditionally applied to address conditions such as backache, debility, fever, hyperglycemia, spasms, vertigo, and as a diuretic or laxative. Scientific evidence regarding its efficacy is limited; for instance, studies on aging mice showed no significant improvement in bone or muscle parameters compared to certain extracts. Some research suggests specific selenium-enriched preparations may offer therapeutic effects on alcohol-induced liver injury, though more data is needed. No major safety issues or notable drug interactions have been recorded in the available literature.

At a glance
Traditionally for
diuretic · backache
Traditions
Unani · TCM · traditional
Best evidence
D
Cautions
—

Informational only. Traditional use does not mean proven effectiveness. Evidence and safety vary — check the cited sources.

Traditional use

What the science says

  • None of the three daily consumption regimens of Lycium barbarum significantly improved bone or muscle parameters in aging mice compared to an extract. D PMID
  • SeLBP showed superior therapeutic effects on alcohol-induced liver injury compared to LBP or Na2SeO3, with a low-dose advantage comparable to silymarin. D PMID
  • Different deep eutectic solvents provided varying yields of phenolic compounds from black and red goji berries, with some showing higher efficiency than ethanol and water. D PMID
  • This study developed an ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvent method to extract polysaccharides from various plants, identifying species-specific structures and some bioactivities. D PMID

Frequently asked questions

What is Lycium barbarum?

Lycium barbarum (Lycium barbarum) is a plant documented in FolkKB's traditional-medicine reference, drawn from sourced literature and cross-checked against the evidence.

What is Lycium barbarum traditionally used for?

Traditional sources record Lycium barbarum for: diuretic, backache, debility, fever, hyperglycemia, laxative. This reflects traditional use, not a proven medical treatment.

Which traditions use Lycium barbarum?

Lycium barbarum appears in these traditions in our sources: Unani, TCM, traditional.

What does the scientific evidence say about Lycium barbarum?

4 sourced findings are recorded for Lycium barbarum; the strongest carries evidence grade D. For example: None of the three daily consumption regimens of Lycium barbarum significantly improved bone or muscle parameters in aging mice compared to an extract.

How strong is the evidence for Lycium barbarum?

The strongest finding for Lycium barbarum carries evidence grade D — preliminary or traditional. Grades run A (strongest) to D (preliminary or traditional).

Is Lycium barbarum safe? What are the side effects?

No major safety issues are recorded for Lycium barbarum in our sources, but the data may be incomplete. Consult a qualified professional before use.

Does Lycium barbarum interact with medications?

No drug interactions are recorded for Lycium barbarum in our sources. This does not rule them out — check with a pharmacist.

What are the common names of Lycium barbarum?

Lycium barbarum is also known as: Дереза обыкновенная, goji.

Is Lycium barbarum a proven treatment?

No. FolkKB is informational only. Traditional use and early findings are not proof of efficacy or safety — consult a qualified professional and never self-treat.

Sources

  1. T3 Dr. Duke's Ethnobotanical Database public domain (USDA ARS — attribute Dr. Duke's)
  2. T2 Research on the Highly Efficient and Low-Dose Improvement of Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury by High-Selenium-Content Modified Lycium barbarum Polysaccharides. literature abstract metadata
  3. T2 Deep Eutectic Solvents as Sustainable Media for Efficient Recovery of Phenolics From Black (Lycium ruthenicum Murr.) and Red (Lycium barbarum Lam.) Goji Berries: Optimization and Functional Evaluation. literature abstract metadata
  4. T2 Effects of Daily Lycium barbarum Consumption Regimens on Bone and Muscle in Aging Mice. literature abstract metadata
  5. T2 Structural characterization and bioactivity evaluation of polysaccharides from Chrysanthemum indicum, Lycium barbarum, Rosa roxburghii, and Platycodon grandiflorum extracted by ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvents. literature abstract metadata

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