An Introduction and Historical Background of Goji Berry
Goji Berry is also referred as Wolf Berry. It is obtained from various plants like Lycium chinense, Lycium barbarum, Lycium halmifolium and Lycium ovatum belonging to family Solanaceae. Goji berry is a deciduous woody perennial plant. It grows up to 1-3 meters in height. The leaves are generally green and lance shaped. The berry blooms along with small purple flowers. It turns to orange red after maturation. Berry is generally oblong and 10 mm long in size.
It is commonly found in North West china and also grown in hills and valleys of Tibet and Mongolia. China is the main supplier of goji berry through out the world. The berries are harvested and eaten dried or raw. The history of Goji Berry is stretched back to 1000- 1400 AD. It is well known since ancient time as health tonic, liver protective, vision enhancer and cancer preventive medicine. It was also used in tea, soup or wine. It is being used as a Chinese medicine since 1900 years. It is cultivated along with fertile floodplains of the yellow river for more than 600 years.