Goji berries are native to Asia and have been used for centuries for their nutritional and medicinal benefits. Over the past 20 years, goji has gained global popularity and is being consumed as functional food thanks to a wide range of bioactive compounds that promote health.
Goji berries are also attracting more research interest as a resource for functional ingredients with industrial applications. In this review, we will focus on goji berries antioxidant properties, scientific evidence of their health effects derived from human interventional study, safety concerns and goji berries processing technologies, as well as their applications in functional food product development.
Biological activities and health benefits of Goji berries are as follows:
Antioxidant
Anti-inflammatory
Antimicrobial
Immune stimulating
Anti-diabetic
Neuroprotective
Anti-cancer
Prebiotic
Anti-obesogenic