General

Scientific Names: Lycium chinense Mill.

Common Names: Gou Qi, Di Gu, Di Ji, Gou Qi Cai, Xi Gou Qi, Bai Ci, Shan Gou Qi, Bai Ga Zhen.

BOTANICAL:

Shrubs erect or sprawling, 0.5-1(-2) m tall. Stems much branched; branches pale gray, slender, curved or pendulous, with thorns 0.5-2 cm. Leaves solitary or in clusters of 2-4; leaf blade ovate, rhombic, lanceolate, or linear-lanceolate, 1.5-5 × 0.5-2.5 cm (to 10 × 4 cm in cultivation). Inflorescences solitary or paired flowers on long shoots or fasciculate among leaves on short shoots. Pedicel 1-2 cm. Calyx campanulate, 3-4 mm, 3-5-divided to halfway, lobes densely ciliate. Corolla pale purple, 0.9-l.2 cm; tube funnel-form, shorter than or subequaling lobes, lobes pubescent at margin. Stamens slightly shorter or longer than corolla, with a villous ring slightly above filament base and adjacent corolla tube. Berry red, ovoid or oblong, 0.7-1.5 cm × 5-8 mm (ca. 2.2 × 1 cm in cultivation). Seeds numerous, yellow, 2.5-3 mm.

中药材基原: 为茄科轮叶灌木植物宁夏枸杞Lycium barbarum L.的成熟果实。

植物形态: 粗壮灌木，有时成小乔木状，高可达25cm，有棘刺。单叶互生或数片丛生于短枝上，长椭圆形披针形或卵状矩圆形，长2～3cm，宽2～6mm，基部楔形并下延成柄，全缘。花腋生，常1～数朵簇生于短枝上；花萼杯状；花冠漏斗状，粉红色或紫红色。浆果椭圆形，长10～20mm，直径5～10mm，红色。花期5～9月，虹期7～10月。

资源分布: 生于山坡、田野向阳干燥处。主产宁夏、甘肃、青海、内蒙古、新疆。

药材: 果实椭圆形，长6～18mm，直径6～8mm。表面鲜红色或暗红色，具不规则皱纹，略有光泽，顶端有花柱痕，另端有果梗痕。质柔润，果肉厚，有粘性，内含种子25～50粒。种子扁肾形，长至2.5mm，宽至2mm,土黄色。气微、味甜、微酸。

Pharmacology

化学成分: 含甜菜碱（detaine）、玉蜀黍黄素（zeaxanthine）、酸浆红素（physalein）、枸杞多糖、胡萝卜素、核黄素、烟酸、维生素C等。

Efficacy

IN VITRO:

1. Zhang M, et al., Effect of lycium barbarum polysaccharide on human hepatoma QGY7703 cells: inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis. Life Sci. 2005 Mar 18; 76(18):2115-24.
2. Gan L, et al., Immunomodulation and antitumor activity by a polysaccharide-protein complex from Lycium barbarum. Int Immunopharmacol. 2004 Apr; 4(4):563-9.
3. Gan L, et al., A polysaccharide-protein complex from Lycium barbarum upregulates cytokine expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Eur J Pharmacol. 2003 Jun 27; 471(3):217-22.
4. Liu XL, et al., [Extraction and isolation of active component for inhibiting PC3 cell proliferation in vitro from the fruit of Lycium barbarum L.] Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2000 Aug; 25(8):481-3. Chinese
5. Huang Y, et al., [Scavenging effect of total flavonoids of lycium barbarum L on active oxygen radicals and inhibitory effects on heat output from L1210 cells]. Wei Sheng Yan Jiu. 1998 Mar; 27(2):109-11, 115. Chinese.
6. Lu CX, et al., [Radiosensitizing effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide for Lewis lung cancer] Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1991 Oct; 11(10):611-2, 582. Chinese.
   
   

IN VIVO:

1. Lu CX, et al., [Radiosensitizing effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide for Lewis lung cancer] Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1991 Oct; 11(10):611-2, 582. Chinese.

CLINICAL:

1. Cao GW, et al., [Observation of the effects of LAK/IL-2 therapy combining with Lycium barbarum polysaccharides in the treatment of 75 cancer patients]. Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi. 1994 Nov; 16(6):428-31. Chinese.
   

Safety

用药忌宜： 脾虚便溏者不宜服用。