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Plants & People: The Intersection of Botany and Human Experience

Goji Berries: The Key to Eternal Youth?

Goji Goji Berries have become a symbol of the Superfood movement which has continued to gain traction in the US and across the world. Although they have served as a token of this emerging trend, goji berries have been renowned in Asia for their nutritious qualities for many centuries. Its use has been documented for almost 2000 years in traditional Chinese medicine (Gross et al., 2006). The goji industry has skyrocketed during the 21st century as they’ve been recognized for their nutritious qualities. Goji berries have a rich cultural history which has contributed to their claim to fame. In 2003, health writer Earl Mindell distributed a booklet which suggested that goji berries had anti-cancer properties - this drove their entry into the Superfood market. His claims were based on the myth of Li Qing Yuen; the herbalist supposedly consumed goji berries daily which allowed him to live 256 years (Earl Mindell and Rick Handel, 2003). While Mindell’s booklet was full of false exaggerations, there is merit to many of his claims regarding the nutritional benefits of goji berries.
Two species are colloquially known as goji berries: Lycium barbarum and Lycium chinense. They are deciduous woody perennial plants which grow to heights of around 1-3 meters, L. chinense is generally a bit shorter and is primarily grown in southern China, while L. barbarum is taller and grown in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of northern China and they are taller (ChemEurope). Their unique vegetative and reproductive morphology makes harvesting the berries labor intensive…

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Although the exact domestication history of the Goji Berry is unknown, gene mapping has allowed for a map showing the likely evolution and spread of the Lycium Species (L.). L. Barbarum and L. Chinense are used almost interchangeably, but L. Barbarum is often referred to as the superior species in quality of berry. It also grows further North than its counterpart. L. Barbarum was likely domesticated in Zhongning County- a county in northern China that borders the Yellow River. This is where Goji Berries thrived as a wild species. From 220 BCE to 900 CE, Chinese Dynasties built an irrigation system that went from the Yellow River to the Ningxia Region. This passed right through Zhongning County and brought extra nutrients to the wild plants. As a result, the farmers in the area took the largest, richest, and reddest berries for themselves; storing the seeds for future harvest. Around the time this irrigation channel was under construction, the Goji berry was also growing in popularity as a medicinal herb and was likely further farmed for its utility. As farmers picked out the best specimens and planted those seeds, the Goji berry diverged from its ancient, wild relative. As farmers kept up the practice of selecting for the best berries, they eventually separated the Goji Berry plants into an estimated 10 landraces known today.

These landraces may seem insignificant as they are all Goji Plants, but the quality of berry varies from one landrace to the next. Recently, the Goji Berry skyrocketed as a cure-all type of food and has also grown in popularity outside of China. This caused a rush in which farmers all over the globe have attempted to cultivate Goji Plants for their lucrative yields. However, cultivation is tough outside of the native Chinese soil and yields are usually smaller and finicky outside of China. Therefore, 45% of Goji Berries are still harvested in China where the best environment and landraces produce the most nutritious berries. The optimal conditions for the best berries are sunny yet moist conditions that lack acidic soil. The best method to farming the Goji plants is as follows: plant Goji cuttings about two meters apart during Autumn, trim to promote branch growth for the first two years, water generously, allow plenty of sunlight, harvest from June - October as needed. The plants are fragile for the first two years and need constant attention, but they will become drought resistant after two years as they begin to produce berries. It is recommended to harvest by hand since the berries will easily bruise and leak with any rough handling. Also, one should prune the plants so that they grow only one vertical stem trimmed to a comfortable height for harvesting and produce lateral branches. Practices vary depending on location, but those listed above have worked well in areas such as China, Tibet, Mongolia, Canada, and a diversifying array of new areas worldwide. After harvest, most berries are dried for preservation as they may be shipped to other continents and regions.

As stated before, the Goji Berry is usually consumed dry, but there are myriad other ways to enjoy the tasty treat. Commonly, the berry is cooked as a vegetable within a soup. However, recent strides have introduced consumption through pills, juices, powdered spices, topical lotions, and teas just to name a few. Even other parts of the Goji Plant are eaten such as the leaves and shoots. While the leaves serve as both a vegetable and loose-leaf tea, the shoots are only eaten as a vegetable.

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13. Lepidium meyenii: The fertility root Maca… maybe you’ve heard of it, maybe you consume it on a daily basis. Maca is the highest elevation crop known today, and is native to the high elevation Andes mountains in Peru, growing in elevations up to 4500 m high! Maca has been a highly valued commodity for many indigenous peoples within the Andes mountains of Peru throughout history and persists to be valued today. Known for its turnip-like shape due to its bulbous hypocotyl, it is highly sought after for its roots. Consuming the roots will result in many notable benefits, such as nutritional benefits, mood improvements, and enhancements in energy, strength… even fertility, all which are backed by numerous studies. These benefits are all due to the numerous nutrients, fibers, bioactive compounds, and natural compounds lepidiline A and B that are contained within Maca. Combined, they all make Maca the nutritional powerhouse that is today. Once this nutritional powerhouse was advertised to the world, it became an immediate hit. The demand for Maca created a market boom and countries started trying to cultivate the plant to meet the demand. One country that cultivated Maca is China. In the high mountains of Yunnan, Maca was successfully cultivated and thus became a common ingredient in Chinese traditional medicine. As such, Maca remains an important dietary source not only in Peru, but as well as worldwide! With more research being done today to further explore what components are in Maca, only time will tell what additional health benefits Maca has to offer us.
18. Moringa oleifera: Domestication Histories and Emerging Deviations from Indian Origin The superfood, Moringa oleifera, has a rich history deeply rooted in its native Indian domestication and usage. Also widely known as “The Miracle Tree”, M. oleifera is often recognized by its white flowers and long-seed pods that are greatly sought after. Not only does M. oleifera provide an incomparable food source and multipurpose oil through its pods, but all parts of the plant may be used and consumed. The versatility of this plant is venerated in Indian culture where its consumption and, most importantly, medicinal usage involve all parts of the plant. Due to its spread across other countries, the species and its utilization have evolved to suit individual cultures and their own domestication desires. In the Philippines and North and South Africa, its nutritional value is greatly relied upon to treat malnourishment, purify water, and support community infrastructure while the Indian native medicinal usage is less emphasized and not well known. The Americas, on the other hand, have increasingly toyed with the novel M. oleifera ‘organic-superfood’ craze that tends to remove emphasis from its cultural value and multipurpose utilization to instead fawn over its supposed energy boosts, skin care implementations, and uses in its powder – likely less effective and increasingly more expensive than the original. Though its original purpose grows increasingly colonized, the domestication ventures globally of this superfood continue the legacy of the Moringa oleifera species itself – marked genetic increases in energy production associated with plastic to nucleus gene duplications. As each nation tends to and selects for various aspects of this energy contribution – whether for the nutritional, medicinal, or vanity value – the variation in these M. oleifera may grow towards eventual speciation. George Vetushko and Lauren Guevara #drumsticktree
20. Salvia hispanica: A Source of Strength Traditionally a key component in Aztec and Mexican culture, chia seeds have been used for centuries for their nutritional, decorative, and medicinal qualities. A common staple in many cultures around the world, these tiny seeds pack a powerful punch and are enjoyed by fitness enthusiasts everywhere. While the seeds themselves are easily recognizable, less well known is their source: a plant known as Salvia hispanica. This flowering, annual herb has a fascinating history and distinctive morphological traits that have evolved over time due to human cultivation. By exploring the myriad ways that this plant has interacted with people over the course of history, we can gain a greater appreciation of how chia seeds have been an important source of strength and inspiration for many. By Joshua Matsuda, Sarah Hoffman, Julia Lindner #Chia
21. Breadfruit: The Intrepid Fruit's Journey with Indigenous Peoples and Colonization Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg) is an intrepid dicot with a rich history and culture surrounding it. A. altilis originated from the South Pacific and was later spread throughout Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia by voyagers. Later on, breadfruit’s ease of maintenance and nutritional value made it a prime crop, in the eyes of colonizers, to feed African slaves in the Caribbean. Today, breadfruit continues to have an important role in sustainability, fighting malnutrition, and increasing food security.
24. Açaí Berry: The Exploitation of Labor in South America The açaí berry is a small fruit, similar in size to a blueberry but deeper purple in color. Native to Eastern Amazonia, the açaí berry has only recently begun to be popularized as a “superfood” in urban communities in the United States within the past 20 years. This superfood claims to be helpful for a variety of major health concerns including, but not limited to, arthritis, weight loss, high cholesterol, and detoxification (NCCIH). Even though research is limited and these claims remain unproven, the popularity of açaí berries still manages to grow exponentially each year. The global market for the açaí berry is expected to exceed $2 billion by 2026 (McCoy). The only proven claim than can be made about the açaí berry is that its rise in popularity only serves to threaten the lives of families, both adults and children, that are living in the surrounding communities in the Amazon who are responsible for harvesting the berries and are, in turn, routinely exploited for cheap, quick labor. More often than not, these açaí pickers, known as peconheiros, are forced to work in critically dangerous conditions and are paid little to nothing. Peconheiros are regularly exposed to serious injuries including bone fractures, accidental knife wounds, and venomous snake and spider bites. With the açaí trees growing upwards of 50 feet tall and only a braided rope being provided to climb, falls are common– and sometimes fatal. Further, peconheiros have no way of advocating for themselves in the event that they do become injured in the forest. No laws or regulations exist that protect the safety and wellness of the peconheiros. by Roberto Vindel, Pauline Le, and Max Kwon #Açaí

This page references:

Flower Morphology of Goji Berry
Chinese Materia Dietetica, Ming: Alcoholic beverages #Goji These paintings illustrate mulberry liquor and Chinese wolfberry (gouqi, lycium chinense) liquor. The text states: Mulberry liquor tonifies the five viscera, tonifies the five viscera, and increases the acuity of the ears and eyes. Chinese wolfberry liquor is a tonic for insufficiency detriment/consumption (xusun), gets rid of overexertion heat (laore), lengthens the muscles,improves the looks, makes one sturdy, and relieves liver deficiency and tearfulness.
Biogeography and Evolution of Lycium Species
Fluorescence Microscope Images of Lycium Barbarum
Goji Field of Ningxia Province
Vegetative Morphology