About Herbs, Botanicals & Other Products

Scientific Name
Lycium barbarum, Lycium chinense, Lycium europeaum
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Common Name

Gou qi zi, Goji, wolfberry, lycium fruit, bastard jasmine, box thorn, tea tree, matrimony vine

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Clinical Summary

The berries of Lycium barbarum are used in traditional medicine to treat inflammation, skin irritation, nose bleeds, aches, pains and as sedatives (1). Lycium is also commonly used with other botanicals in Chinese medicine for poor vision, anemia, and cough (9). A polysaccharide isolated from lycium was shown to have antitumor (2) (10), immune enhancing (3), hepatoprotective (6) and neuroprotective (11) properties in vitro. It also showed radiosensitizing (4) and photoprotective (12) effects in mice.
In addition, lycium inhibited growth of ER positive breast cancer cells (13).
Small studies of lycium reported subjective improvement in well-being in healthy subjects (14) (15) (16), and its protective effects on macula in elderly subjects by preventing hypopigmentation (19).

Data from an observational study done in China suggest that polysacchardies from Lycium barbarum have positive effects when used with certain cancer treatments (5). It is unclear if similar effects can be observed with cancer treatments that are currently in use. In another study lycium was shown to reduce cardiotoxicity associated with doxorubicin (17). Well designed clinical trials are needed to determine Lycium’s anticancer potential.

Lycium may have an additive anticoagulant effect when used with warfarin (8) (18).
Despite many marketing claims of cancer preventive potential, the efficacy and safety of lycium products for cancer treatment in humans have not been established.

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Purported Uses
  • Anemia
  • Burns
  • Cough
  • Inflammation
  • Pain
  • Sedation
  • Skin infections
  • Visual acuity
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Constituents
  • Betasitosterol
  • Polysaccharides
  • Cerebrosides
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Mechanism of Action

The bark and the berry contain betasitosterol which can prevent cholesterol absorption in the gastrointestinal tract (7). A cerebroside extracted from Lycium chinense was shown to block the release of glutamic pyruvic transaminase and sorbitol dehydrogenase, suggesting hepatoprotective activity (6).
Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) inhibits the growth of leukemia HL-60 cells (2) and increases expression of interleukin-2 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (3).

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Herb-Drug Interactions

Warfarin: Two cases of elevated INR in patients on anticoagulant therapy were reported following consumption of concentrated Chinese herbal tea made from lycium (8) (18).

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Literature Summary and Critique

Lycium and related products have not been studied in large well-designed clinical trials.
Research cited in this monograph was not conducted at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Amagase H, Sun B, Nance DM. Immunomodulatory effects of a standardized Lycium barbarum fruit juice in Chinese older healthy human subjects. J Med Food. 2009 Oct;12(5):1159-65.
Sixty healthy adults, aged 55-72 years, were randomized to receive Lycium barbarum fruit juice (120 mL/day) or placebo for 30 days. Individuals who took lycium juice showed a significant increase in immunological responses and subjective well-being compared to those in the placebo group. Adverse reactions were not reported.
Whether lycium products would produce similar effects in people with specific disorders is not known. Further research is warranted.

Cao GW, Yang WG, Du P. [Observation of the effects of LAK/IL-2 therapy combining with Lycium barbarum polysaccharides in the treatment of 75 cancer patients]. Zhonghua Zhong.Liu Za Zhi. 1994;16:428-31.
This is an observational study done in China on patients with a variety of cancers. The patients were treated with either LAK/IL-2 or a combination of LAK/IL-2 and Lycium Barbarum polysaccharides (LBP). The response rate, as judged by the objective regression of cancer, was 40.9% in patients who received the LBP compared to 16.1% in those treated with LAK/IL-2 alone. Patients who received the LBP supplement also had a greater increase in NK and LAK cell activities. However, it is unclear if lycium would show similar effects when used with other chemotherapy regimens. Further large scale studies are warranted.

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References
  1. Dafni A,.Yaniv Z. Solanaceae as medicinal plants in Israel. J Ethnopharmacol. 1994;44:11-8.
  2. Gan L, Wang J, Zhang S. [Inhibition the growth of human leukemia cells by Lycium barbarum polysaccharide]. Wei Sheng Yan.Jiu. 2001;30:333-5.
  3. Gan L, Zhang SH, Liu Q, Xu HB. A polysaccharide-protein complex from Lycium barbarum upregulates cytokine expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Eur J Pharmacol. 2003;471:217-22.
  4. Lu CX,.Cheng BQ. [Radiosensitizing effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide for Lewis lung cancer]. Zhong.Xi.Yi.Jie.He.Za Zhi. 1991;11:611-2, 582.
  5. Cao GW, Yang WG, Du P. [Observation of the effects of LAK/IL-2 therapy combining with Lycium barbarum polysaccharides in the treatment of 75 cancer patients]. Zhonghua Zhong.Liu Za Zhi. 1994;16:428-31.
  6. Kim SY, Lee EJ, Kim HP, Lee HS, Kim YC. LCC, a cerebroside from Lycium chinense, protects primary cultured rat hepatocytes exposed to galactosamine. Phytother Res 2000;14:448-51.
  7. Law M. Plant sterol and stanol margarines and health. BMJ 2000;320:861-4.
  8. Lam AY, Elmer GW, Mohutsky MA. Possible interaction between warfarin and Lycium barbarum L. Ann.Pharmacother. 2001;35:1199-201.
  9. Bensky D, Gamble A. Chinese Herbal Medicine, Materia Medica, Revised Edition. Seattle (WA): Eastland Press; 1993.
  10. Zhang Z, Liu X, Wu T, et al. Selective suppression of cervical cancer Hela cells by 2-O-beta-D: -glucopyranosyl-L: -ascorbic acid isolated from the fruit of Lycium barbarum L. Cell Biol Toxicol. 2010 Aug 19. [Epub ahead of print]
  11. Ho YS, Yu MS, Yang XF, et al. Neuroprotective effects of polysaccharides from wolfberry, the fruits of Lycium barbarum, against homocysteine-induced toxicity in rat cortical neurons. J Alzheimers Dis. 2010;19(3):813-27.
  12. Reeve VE, Allanson M, Arun SJ, Domanski D, Painter N. Mice drinking goji berry juice (Lycium barbarum) are protected from UV radiation-induced skin damage via antioxidant pathways. Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2010 Apr;9(4):601-7.
  13. Li G, Sepkovic DW, Bradlow HL, Telang NT, Wong GY. Lycium barbarum inhibits growth of estrogen receptor positive human breast cancer cells by favorably altering estradiol metabolism. Nutr Cancer. 2009;61(3):408-14.
  14. Amagase H, Nance DM. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical study of the general effects of a standardized Lycium barbarum (Goji) Juice, GoChi. J Altern Complement Med. 2008 May;14(4):403-12.
  15. Amagase H, Sun B, Borek C. Lycium barbarum (goji) juice improves in vivo antioxidant biomarkers in serum of healthy adults. Nutr Res. 2009 Jan;29(1):19-25.
  16. Amagase H, Sun B, Nance DM. Immunomodulatory effects of a standardized Lycium barbarum fruit juice in Chinese older healthy human subjects. J Med Food. 2009 Oct;12(5):1159-65.
  17. Xin YF, Zhou GL, Deng ZY, et al. Protective effect of Lycium barbarum on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. Phytother Res. 2007 Nov;21(11):1020-4.
  18. Leung H, Hung A, Hui AC, Chan TY. Warfarin overdose due to the possible effects of Lycium barbarum L. Food Chem Toxicol. 2008 May;46(5):1860-2.
  19. Bucheli P, Vidal K, Shen L, et al. Goji berry effects on macular characteristics and plasma antioxidant levels. Optom Vis Sci. 2011 Feb;88(2):257-62.
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How It Works

Bottom Line: The safety efficacy of lycium products for cancer prevention and treatment in humans have not been established.

The berries of Lycium barbarum are used in traditional medicine to treat inflammation, skin irritation, nose bleeds, aches, pains and as sedatives. Lycium is also commonly used with other botanicals in Chinese medicine for poor vision, anemia, and cough. Polysaccharides isolated from the plant have been shown to improve immune response, improve the effects of radiation therapy, and inhibit growth of some cancer cells in laboratory and animal studies. An observational study conducted in China showed that lycium may improve the effects of certain therapy in humans. However, more well-designed studies are needed.

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Purported Uses
  • To treat aches and pains
    No scientific evidence supports this use.
  • To treat burns
    This use is not backed by research.
  • To prevent and to treat cancers
    No clinical studies have been conducted to show that lycium is effective for cancer treatment.
  • To improve the effects of certain cancer therapy
    A small observational study showed benefits, but further well designed trials are necessary.
  • To reduce inflammation
    No scientific evidence supports this use.
  • To reduce skin irritation
    There are no studies to support this.
  • As a sedative
    This claim is not backed by research.
  • To reduce nose bleeds
    No scientific evidence supports this use.
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Research Evidence

Sixty healthy adults, aged 55-72 years, were randomized to receive Lycium barbarum fruit juice (120 mL/day) or placebo for 30 days. Subjects who took lycium juice showed a significant increase in immunological responses and sbujective well-being compared to those in the placebo group. Adverse reactions were not reported.
Whether lycium products would produce similar effects in individuals with specific disorders is not known. Further research is warranted.

In a study conducted in China to determine if lycium could help improve the effects of other therapies, 75 patients with a variety of cancers were given either a regimen LAK/IL-2, or the LAK/IL-2 regimen along with an extract of lycium. Patients who received the LAK/IL-2 with the lycium extract had improved immune system activity. However, this effect has yet to be confirmed in well-designed clinical trials.

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Do Not Take If

You are taking warfarin or other anticoagulants (Two cases of elevated INR were reported in patients on anticoagulant therapy following consumption of concentrated Chinese herbal tea made from lycium.)

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Side Effects

None reported.

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Special Point

There have been reports of marketers misrepresenting the position of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center on lycium products.
1. This Center has not conducted any clinical research on lycium products.
2. The products were not given or prescribed to our patients.

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Aliases
Goji
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E-mail your questions and comments to aboutherbs@mskcc.org.
Last updated: August 5, 2011