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Lycium Fruit: Lycium fruit is used extensively in Chinese herbalism. The fruit are the berries of Lycium chinense and more commonly Lycium barbarum. The roots also have healing properties. Lycium is a shrub that grows to about 12 ft (4 m) in height. It grows wild on hillsides in the cooler regions of northern China and Tibet. However, it is also grown as a cultivated plant in almost all parts of China and in some other regions of Asia. Lycium fruit is rich in carotene, vitamins B1 and B12, and vitamin C . The fruit also contains amino acids (the building blocks of proteins), iron, and trace elements essential to the body, including zinc, copper, selenium, calcium, and phosphorus. The bright red berries are usually harvested in late summer or early autumn. The roots are usually harvested in the spring, although they can be dug any time of the year. Berries and roots can be used either fresh or dried. Lycium is also called Chinese wolfberry. Its Chinese name is Gou Qi Zi. In Chinese medicine, the liver is associated with the function of the eyes. Lycium berries are used as a liver tonic to brighten the eyes, improve poor eyesight, treat blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and other general eye weaknesses.
Kim, H. P., S. Y. Kim, et al. (1997). Zeaxanthin dipalmitate from Lycium chinense has hepatoprotective activity. Research Communications in Molecular Pathology and Pharmacology 97(3): 301-314. {a} Coll. Pharmacy, Seoul Natl. Univ., Seoul 151-742, South Korea
Kim, S. Y., H. P. Kim, et al. (1997). Antihepatotoxic zeaxanthins from the fruits of Lycium chinense. Archives of Pharmacal Research Seoul 20(6): 529-532. {a} 56-1 Shillim-Dong, Kwanak-Gu, Seoul 151-742, South Korea
Asano, N., A. Kato, et al. (1997). Specific alpha-galactosidase inhibitors, N-methylcalystegines: Structure/activity relationships of calystegines from Lycium chinense. European Journal of Biochemistry 248(2): 296-303. {a} Fac. Pharmaceutical Sci., Hokiriku Univ., Kanagawa-machi, Kanazawa 920-11, Japan
Kim, S. Y., E. J. Lee, et al. (1999). A novel cerebroside from lycii fructus preserves the hepatic glutathione redox system in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin. Aug. 22(8): 873-875. {a} College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, San 56-1, Shillim-Dong, Kwanak-Gu, Seoul, 151-742, South Korea
Jang, Y. P., Y. J. Lee, et al. (1998). Production of a hepatoprotective cerebroside from suspension cultures of Lycium chinense. Plant Cell Reports 18(3-4): 252-254. {a} Coll. Pharm., Seoul Natl. Univ., 56-1 Shillim-Dong, Kwanak-Gu, Seoul 151-742, South Korea
