Comparative Studies on Phenolic Profiles, Antioxidant Capacities and Carotenoid Contents of Red Goji Berry (Lycium Barbarum) and Black Goji Berry (Lycium Ruthenicum)

Overview

Journal Chem Cent J

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Chemistry

Date 2017 Nov 1

PMID 29086843

Citations 38

Authors

Tahidul Islam

Xiaoming Yu

Tanvir Singh Badwal

Baojun Xu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The study on phytochemical difference between red and black goji berry is limited.

Methods: Antioxidant activities and phenolic profiles in terms of total phenol content, total flavonoid contents, condensed tannin content, monomeric anthocyanin content, and total carotenoid content of red goji berry (Lycium barbarum) and black goji berry (L. ruthenicum) were compared using colorimetric assays.

Results: All goji berries were rich in phenolics. Black goji berry had the highest phenolic, condensed tannin content and monomeric anthocyanin content. Black goji berry samples possessed higher antioxidant capacities than red goji berry, while the red goji berry had the highest carotenoid content. Goji berries exhibited a positive linear correlation between phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacities. The average value of carotenoid content in red goji berry was 233.04 µg/g.

Conclusion: The phenolics and antioxidant capacities are much higher in black goji berry than red goji berry, while carotenoid content is much higher in red than black.

Citing Articles

High-quality genome of black wolfberry ( Murr.) provides insights into the genetics of anthocyanin biosynthesis regulation.

Xu Y, Li H, Shi T, Luo Q, Chen Y, Guo S Hortic Res. 2025; 12(2):uhae298.

PMID: 39949881 PMC: 11822397. DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhae298.

The Lignicolous Fungus (Lion's Mane Mushroom): A Promising Natural Source of Antiradical and DPPH Inhibitory Agents.

Jahedi A, Ahmadifar S, Mohammadi R, Goltapeh E ScientificWorldJournal. 2025; 2025:5964432.

PMID: 39949660 PMC: 11824607. DOI: 10.1155/tswj/5964432.

Exploring phytochemicals and their pharmacological applications from ethnomedicinal plants: A focus on .

Baimakhanova B, Sadanov A, Bogoyavlenskiy A, Berezin V, Trenozhnikova L, Baimakhanova G Heliyon. 2025; 11(2):e41782.

PMID: 39897859 PMC: 11786657. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e41782.

Effects of residual black fruit on growth performance, rumen fermentation parameters, microflora and economic benefits of fattening sheep.

Hou L, Duan P, Yang Y, Shah A, Li J, Xu C Front Vet Sci. 2025; 11:1528126.

PMID: 39867601 PMC: 11760609. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1528126.

Characterization and Classification of Berry (Aronia, Haskap, and Goji) Fruits with High Bioactive Value Grown in Spain.

Ayuso-Yuste M, Cruz Calero F, Ramos Garcia M, Nicolas Barroso N, Ramos Alguijo M, Rodriguez Gomez M Foods. 2025; 13(24.

PMID: 39767063 PMC: 11675623. DOI: 10.3390/foods13244122.

References

Liu Y, Zeng S, Sun W, Wu M, Hu W, Shen X . Comparative analysis of carotenoid accumulation in two goji (Lycium barbarum L. and L. ruthenicum Murr.) fruits. BMC Plant Biol. 2014; 14:269. PMC: 4276078. DOI: 10.1186/s12870-014-0269-4. View

Jin M, Huang Q, Zhao K, Shang P . Biological activities and potential health benefit effects of polysaccharides isolated from Lycium barbarum L. Int J Biol Macromol. 2012; 54:16-23. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2012.11.023. View

Jung K, Chin Y, Kim Y, Kim J . Potentially hepatoprotective glycolipid constituents of Lycium chinense fruits. Arch Pharm Res. 2006; 28(12):1381-5. DOI: 10.1007/BF02977905. View

Potterat O . Goji (Lycium barbarum and L. chinense): Phytochemistry, pharmacology and safety in the perspective of traditional uses and recent popularity. Planta Med. 2009; 76(1):7-19. DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1186218. View

Peng X, Tian G . Structural characterization of the glycan part of glycoconjugate LbGp2 from Lycium barbarum L. Carbohydr Res. 2001; 331(1):95-9. DOI: 10.1016/s0008-6215(00)00321-9. View

Re R, Pellegrini N, Proteggente A, Pannala A, Yang M . Antioxidant activity applying an improved ABTS radical cation decolorization assay. Free Radic Biol Med. 1999; 26(9-10):1231-7. DOI: 10.1016/s0891-5849(98)00315-3. View

Xu B, Chang S . A comparative study on phenolic profiles and antioxidant activities of legumes as affected by extraction solvents. J Food Sci. 2007; 72(2):S159-66. DOI: 10.1111/j.1750-3841.2006.00260.x. View

Weller P, Breithaupt D . Identification and quantification of zeaxanthin esters in plants using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. J Agric Food Chem. 2003; 51(24):7044-9. DOI: 10.1021/jf034803s. View

Carvalho L, Oliveira A, Godoy R, Pacheco S, Nutti M, de Carvalho J . Retention of total carotenoid and β-carotene in yellow sweet cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) after domestic cooking. Food Nutr Res. 2012; 56. PMC: 3314373. DOI: 10.3402/fnr.v56i0.15788. View

10.

Yu M, Leung S, Lai S, Che C, Zee S, So K . Neuroprotective effects of anti-aging oriental medicine Lycium barbarum against beta-amyloid peptide neurotoxicity. Exp Gerontol. 2005; 40(8-9):716-27. DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2005.06.010. View

11.

Ferreira I, Barros L, Abreu R . Antioxidants in wild mushrooms. Curr Med Chem. 2009; 16(12):1543-60. DOI: 10.2174/092986709787909587. View

12.

Heimler D, Vignolini P, Dini M, Romani A . Rapid tests to assess the antioxidant activity of Phaseolus vulgaris L. dry beans. J Agric Food Chem. 2005; 53(8):3053-6. DOI: 10.1021/jf049001r. View

13.

Chang R, So K . Use of anti-aging herbal medicine, Lycium barbarum, against aging-associated diseases. What do we know so far?. Cell Mol Neurobiol. 2007; 28(5):643-52. PMC: 11514989. DOI: 10.1007/s10571-007-9181-x. View

14.

Lee J, Durst R, Wrolstad R . Determination of total monomeric anthocyanin pigment content of fruit juices, beverages, natural colorants, and wines by the pH differential method: collaborative study. J AOAC Int. 2006; 88(5):1269-78. View

15.

Fraser P, Bramley P . The biosynthesis and nutritional uses of carotenoids. Prog Lipid Res. 2004; 43(3):228-65. DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2003.10.002. View

16.

Cai Y, Luo Q, Sun M, Corke H . Antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds of 112 traditional Chinese medicinal plants associated with anticancer. Life Sci. 2004; 74(17):2157-84. PMC: 7126989. DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2003.09.047. View

17.

Luo Q, Cai Y, Yan J, Sun M, Corke H . Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects and antioxidant activity of fruit extracts from Lycium barbarum. Life Sci. 2004; 76(2):137-49. DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2004.04.056. View

18.

Li X, Ma Y, Liu X . Effect of the Lycium barbarum polysaccharides on age-related oxidative stress in aged mice. J Ethnopharmacol. 2007; 111(3):504-11. DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2006.12.024. View

19.

Benzie I, Strain J . The ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) as a measure of "antioxidant power": the FRAP assay. Anal Biochem. 1996; 239(1):70-6. DOI: 10.1006/abio.1996.0292. View

20.

Peng Q, Lv X, Xu Q, Li Y, Huang L, Du Y . Isolation and structural characterization of the polysaccharide LRGP1 from Lycium ruthenicum. Carbohydr Polym. 2014; 90(1):95-101. DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2012.04.067. View