Goji / wolfberry

Lycium barbarum

Other names: 枸杞 gǒuqǐ; 宁夏枸杞 Níngxià gǒuqǐ, Goji / wolfberry

Edible plant

Chinese

Photo credit: Paul Gross ( paul144 ) and Richard Zhang

Safety information

Toxicity: Low for the fruit; atropine not detectable in fruit. Generally regarded as a safe food.

Contraindications: Caution with anticoagulants; pregnancy data limited.

Interactions: Case reports of interaction with warfarin (raised INR).

Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Data limited.

Evidence level

Preclinical

Supported by laboratory or animal studies; not yet confirmed in humans.

Preparations

edible dried · fruit

Part used: fruit

Traditional use: nourish liver/kidney yin, brighten the eyes

Proposed mechanism: polysaccharides, zeaxanthin

Evidence:Traditional (systematized)

decoction/tea · fruit

Part used: fruit

Traditional use: tonic

Evidence:Traditional (systematized)

tincture · fruit

Part used: fruit

Evidence:Preclinical

General preparation guide →

Associated conditions

Liver support Eyesight / vision

Edibility

Edible parts: Dried berries widely eaten raw, in teas, soups, and congee.

Toxic lookalike warning

Belongs to nightshade family (Solanaceae); do not confuse with other red Solanaceae berries; only L. barbarum / L. chinense wolfberries are the food/medicinal species.

Nutritional notes

Functional food. Fruit dry mass ~23% polysaccharides/proteoglycans; carotenoids (zeaxanthin dipalmitate); flavonoids (myricetin, quercetin, kaempferol derivatives); beta-sitosterol.

Healing traditions

Chinese

Sources (2)

Lycium barbarum (Wikipedia), English, accessed 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycium_barbarum
Potterat O., Goji (Lycium barbarum and L. chinense): Phytochemistry, pharmacology and safety, Planta Medica 2010, doi:10.1055/s-0029-1186218

All sources →