Can goji berries be grown in southern China?
We all know that goji berries are of great significance to human health, can provide health benefits for the body, and are a fruit that people love. The quality of Ningxia goji berries from northern China leads the rest of the country and has become the representative of goji berries. So, can goji berries be grown in southern China?
1. Can goji berries be grown in southern China?
They can be grown, but the fruit produced is of poorer quality, so they are mainly grown for their leaves for use as a vegetable. Goji berries can be broadly divided into two types: vegetable-type and medicinal-type. In southern China they are mostly vegetable-type, with varieties such as fine-leaf goji and large-leaf goji. Medicinal types are mostly seen in northern China, with the main varieties being Tianjin goji and West goji.
2. Benefits and effects of goji berries
1. Immune regulation
Goji berries are rich in goji polysaccharides, a water-soluble polysaccharide composed of 6 monosaccharide components: arabinose, glucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, and rhamnose. It has physiological activity, can enhance nonspecific immune function, improve disease resistance, and inhibit tumor growth and cell mutation.
2. Anti-aging
Immune aging is closely related to cell apoptosis. Goji polysaccharide (LBP) can significantly improve the phagocytic function of phagocytes and enhance the proliferation capacity of lymphocytes.
. Anti-tumor
Goji polysaccharide is not only a biological response modifier that regulates immune responses, but can also exert anti-cancer effects through the neuro-endocrine-immune regulatory network.
4. Anti-fatigue
Goji polysaccharide can significantly increase the reserves of muscle glycogen and liver glycogen in mice, and improve the total activity of blood lactate dehydrogenase before and after exercise; it reduces the increase in blood urea nitrogen in mice after strenuous exercise and speeds up the clearance rate of blood urea nitrogen after exercise. This shows that goji polysaccharide has a very obvious effect on eliminating fatigue.
5. Resistance to radiation damage
Goji berries have the effect of resisting Y-ray radiation and protecting the body, and can be used as an auxiliary drug in combination with radiotherapy and other anti-tumor treatments, reducing the toxic side effects of radiotherapy, improving efficacy, and protecting the body's immune function.
6. Regulating blood lipids
Goji berries can effectively reduce the content of triglycerides and cholesterol in the serum of rats with hyperlipidemia, have obvious blood lipid-lowering and lipid metabolism-regulating functions, and have a positive effect on preventing cardiovascular disease.
7. Lowering blood sugar
Goji polysaccharide can significantly enhance the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in damaged pancreatic islet cells, improve the antioxidant capacity of pancreatic islet cells, reduce peroxide damage to cells, and lower malondialdehyde production. This shows that goji polysaccharide has a certain protective effect on pancreatic islet cells.
8. Lowering blood pressure
Goji polysaccharide can lower blood pressure in rats (with effects seen on both systolic and diastolic pressure); it reduces the content of malondialdehyde and endothelin in plasma and blood vessels, increases the release of calcitonin gene-related peptide, and prevents the formation of high blood pressure.
9. Protecting the reproductive system
Goji polysaccharide can raise the serum sex hormone levels in rats with damaged testes; increase the organ coefficients of the testes and epididymis, improve SOD activity in rat testicular tissue, reduce malondialdehyde content, and restore damaged testicular tissue to near normal levels.
10. Improving eyesight
The retina's photoreceptors in the human body are composed of retinol and opsin. The abundant beta-carotene contained in goji berries can be converted into vitamin A in the human body, and vitamin A can produce retinol, thereby improving eyesight and preventing macular degeneration.
Although goji berries have many benefits and effects, they should not be consumed in excess. Excessive consumption can cause internal heat, nosebleeds, and even red, swollen, and uncomfortable eyes.