Lycium
Lycium, commonly known as goji or wolfberry, is a versatile medicinal plant cherished in traditional Eastern medicine. Renowned for its antioxidant-rich berries, it promotes longevity, enhances immunity, and supports eye health. This resilient shrub offers diverse therapeutic benefits, making it a cornerstone of holistic wellness and nutritional supplementation.
- Scientific name: Lycium
- Family: Solanaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Solanales and the family Solanaceae, it is classified under the genus Lycium.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Solanales | WCVP |
| Family | Solanaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Lycium | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, belonging to the genus Lycium, is recognized by various regional names across different languages. In French, it is known as Lyciet, while in Russian, it is referred to as Дереза. In Georgian, the plant is called თეთრეკალა, and in Chinese, it is categorized under the genus 枸杞属. Additionally, in German, it is commonly called Bocksdorne.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| fr | Lyciet | Wikidata |
| ru | Дереза | Wikidata |
| ka | თეთრეკალა | Wikidata |
| zh | 枸杞属 | Wikidata |
| de | Bocksdorne | Wikidata |
| bo | འདྲེ་ཚེར་མ། | Wikidata |
| sv | Bocktörnesläktet | Wikidata |
| lt | Ožerškis | Wikidata |
| ar | حضض | Wikidata |
| pl | Kolcowój | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific distribution across the northern regions of Europe. Within Northern Europe, it can be found growing in the country of Denmark. Its range also extends to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Furthermore, the species is documented in the Scandinavian territories of Norway. Finally, the plant is also present within the borders of Sweden.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Goji, utilizes various components for its medicinal and nutritional value. The most well-known parts are the fruits, which are harvested in large quantities for their antioxidant properties. Each individual fruit is a small, bright red berry that is highly sought after in traditional medicine. These fleshy fruits are prized for their nutrient density and are often dried for long-term use. In addition to the berries, the bark of the shrub can also be utilized in certain traditional preparations to support overall health.- Total parts
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 5
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| fruits | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruit | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Fleshy fruits | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Lycium has 16 reported phytochemicals identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include carotenoids, 5-O-feruloylquinic acid, ABA, NGF, anthocyanin.
- Total chemicals
- 16
- Scientific sources
- 17
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| carotenoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-O-feruloylquinic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ABA | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| NGF | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anthocyanin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anthocyanins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| caffeic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cryptochlorogenic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fructose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glucose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Lycium has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiinflammatory.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antiinflammatory | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Lycium has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include edema, inflammation.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| edema | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |