Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Dermatologic Uses and Effects of Lycium Barbarum

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Lycium Barbarum and Human Health

  • 925 Accesses

Abstract

Lycium barbarum (LB) is one of the most intriguing medicinal plants in China. The beauty of its berries combined with the amount of beneficial effects assigned to it would logically make it a strong candidate for skin use, yet relatively few scientific publications address such application. Here, we will review the skin-related effects of oral and topical preparations of LB, based on the published scientific literature and work done in our own laboratory. We will also discuss the obstacles and opportunities for LB in today’s dermatological field.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Carney DH, Mann R, Redin WR, et al. Enhancement of incisional wound healing and neovascularization in normal rats by thrombin and synthetic thrombin receptor-activating peptides. J Clin Invest. 1992;89:1469–77.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chung IM, Ali M, Praveen N, Yu BR, Kim SH, Ahmad A. New polyglucopyranosyl and polyarabinopyranosyl of fatty acid derivatives from the fruits of Lycium chinense and its antioxidant activity. Food Chem. 2014;151:435–43. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.11.061.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Conner EM, Grisham MB. Inflammation, free radicals, and antioxidants. Nutrition. 1996;12:274–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Deng HB, Cui DP, Jiang JM, Feng YC, Cai NS, Li DD. Inhibiting effects of Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharide and Lycium barbarum polysaccharide on nonenzyme glycation in D-galactose induced mouse aging model. Biomed Environ Sci. 2003;16:267–75.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dong JZ, Lu da Y, Wang Y. Analysis of flavonoids from leaves of cultivated Lycium barbarum L. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2009;64:199–204. doi:10.1007/s11130-009-0128-x.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fan L, Zhou X, Wu P, Xie W, Zheng H, Tan W, Liu S, Li Q. Preparation of carboxymethyl cellulose sulfates and its application as anticoagulant and wound dressing. Int J Biol Macromol. 2014;66:245–53. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2014.02.040.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ge B, Zhang Z, Zuo Z. Updates on the clinical evidenced herb-warfarin interactions. Evid Base Complement Altern Med. 2014;66:245–53. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2014.02.040.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harman D. Origin and evolution of the free radical theory of aging: a brief personal history, 1954–2009. Biogerontology. 2009;10:773–81. doi:10.1007/s10522-009-9234-2.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Huang LJ, Tian GY, Wang ZF, Dong JB, Wu MP. Studies on the glycoconjugates and glycans from Lycium barbarum L in inhibiting low density lipoprotein (LDL) peroxidation. Acta Pharmaceut Sinica. 2001;36:108–11.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • 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. 2013;54:16–23. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2012.11.023.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lam AY, Elmer GW, Mohutsky MA. Possible interaction between warfarin and Lycium barbarum L. Ann Pharmacother. 2001;35:1199–201.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Larramendi CH, García-Abujeta JL, Vicario S, García-Endrino A, López-Matas MA, García-Sedeño MD, Carnés J. Goji berries (Lycium barbarum): risk of allergic reactions in individuals with food allergy. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2012;22:345–50.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li H. [Study of medicinal effects of goji and its functional ingredients]. Zhongcaoyao. 1995;26,490-5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li XM, Ma YL, Liu XJ. Effect of the Lycium barbarum polysaccharides on age-related oxidative stress in aged mice. J Ethnopharmacol. 2007;111:504–11.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Monzón Ballarín S, López-Matas MA, Sáenz Abad D, Pérez-Cinto N, Carnés J. Anaphylaxis associated with the ingestion of goji berries (Lycium barbarum). J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2011;21: 567–70.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oh YC, Cho WK, Im GY, Jeong YH, Hwang YH, Liang C, Ma JY. Anti-inflammatory effect of Lycium fruit water extract in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Int Immunopharmacol. 2012;13:181–9. doi:10.1016/j.intimp.2012.03.020.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Qiu S, Chen J, Chen X, Fan Q, Zhang C, Wang D, Li X, Chen X, Chen X, Liu C, Gao Z, Li H, Hu Y. Optimization of selenylation conditions for lycium barbarum polysaccharide based on antioxidant activity. Carbohydr Polym. 2014;103:148–53. doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2013.12.032.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • 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;9:601–7. doi:10.1039/b9pp00177h.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Song S, Han H, Ko UH, Kim J, Shin JH. Collaborative effects of electric field and fluid shear stress on fibroblast migration. Lab Chip. 2013;13:1602–11. doi:10.1039/c3lc41240g.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tang WM, Chan E, Kwok CY, Lee YK, Wu JH, Wan CW, Chan RY, Yu PH, Chan SW. A review of the anticancer and immunomodulatory effects of Lycium barbarum fruit. Inflammopharmacology. 2012;20:307–14. doi:10.1007/s10787–011–0107–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tollesson A, Frithz A. Transepidermal water loss and water content in the stratum corneum in infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis. Acta Derm Venereol. 1993;73:18–20.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang XY, Wang YG, Wang YF. Ginsenoside Rb1, Rg1 and three extracts of traditional Chinese medicine attenuate ultraviolet B-induced G1 growth arrest in HaCaT cells and dermal fibroblasts involve down-regulating the expression of p16, p21 and p53. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2011;27:203–12. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0781.2011.00601.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Zhao H, Sheng X, Gambino PE, Costello B, Bojanowski K. Protective effect of Fructus Lycii polysaccharides against time and hyperthermia-induced damage in cultured seminiferous epithelium. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002;82:169–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yi R, Liu XM, Dong Q. A study of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) extraction technology and its anti-aging effect. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2013;10:171–4.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang X. [Experimental research on the role of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide in anti-peroxidation]. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1993;18:110–2.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang JX, Guan SH, Feng RH, Wang Y, Wu ZY, Zhang YB, Chen XH, Bi KS, Guo DA. Neolignanamides, lignanamides, and other phenolic compounds from the root bark of Lycium chinense. J Nat Prod. 2013;76:51–8. doi:10.1021/np300655y.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Stephanie Ma for her expert assistance in this project and George Majewski for helpful discussions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sunny BioDiscovery, Inc., 972 E. Main St., 93060, Santa Paula, CA, USA

    Hui Zhao MD & Krzysztof Bojanowski PhD

Authors
  1. Hui Zhao MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Krzysztof Bojanowski PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Krzysztof Bojanowski PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, LKS Faculty of Medicine the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Raymond Chuen-Chung Chang

  2. Department of Anatomy, LKS Faculty of Medicine the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Kwok-Fai So

Conclusion

Conclusion

LB is a versatile medicinal herb with many health benefits and a few, mostly benign side effects (such as temporary nosebleed following overconsumption (> 1 g) of LBP). The dermatologic activities of LB are poorly understood, in part because of the lack of motivation due to the regulatory constrains in Asian countries traditionally utilizing in this plant. We hope that this chapter conveys the potential of LB in skin and wound care, and encourages more preclinical and clinical explorations in this direction.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Zhao, H., Bojanowski, K. (2015). Dermatologic Uses and Effects of Lycium Barbarum . In: Chang, RC., So, KF. (eds) Lycium Barbarum and Human Health. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9658-3_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9658-3_5

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-017-9657-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-9658-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation