Chapter 35 - Lycium barbarum (goji berry), human breast cancer, and antioxidant profile

Anna Wawruszaka,Marta Halasaa,Karolina Oklab · International Review of Neurobiology · 2021 January 1

DOI 10.1016/B978-0-12-819547-5.00035-3

Objective

Lycium barbarum (goji berry) belongs to the group of plants that exhibit human health benefits such as antioxidant and anticancer effects. These effects are the results of high levels of polysaccharides, polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, and their derivatives in these plants.

Conclusions

Extracted fractions from goji berries, depending on their types and abundance of individual compounds, show antiproliferative properties against different types of cancer, including breast carcinoma, whereas their cytotoxic effect on human normal cells has not been demonstrated. A pectin-free fraction of goji berry extract induces growth inhibition of MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines, while ethanol extract inhibits proliferation of T47D cell line in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Additionally, polysaccharides from Lycium barbarum (LBPs) modulates estrogen metabolism, activates the extracellular signal-reduced kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2) pathway, and increases the expression level of p53. Taken together, goji berries seem to be a highly promising natural medicine in anticancer prevention and treatment because of their high content of active compounds.

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Insights

Goji berries have significant potential as a natural medicine in anticancer efforts due to their high content of active compounds.

The research involved extraction and analysis of various fractions from goji berries to ascertain their impact on different types of cancer. These fractions included polysaccharides, polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids and their derivatives, and they were tested against particular types of cancer cells, such as those of breast carcinoma. The effect of these extracts on normal human cells, however, has not been explored. Two distinct stages were mapped out: one with a pectin-free fraction of goji berry extract used to inhibit the growth of two breast cancer cell types, and another phase involving an ethanol extract inhibiting a different breast cancer cell line. In the discussion of results, the study revealed that various extracts from goji berries exhibit antiproliferative properties against different types of cancer cells. Evidence shows that a certain pectin-free fraction of the goji extract inhibited the growth of specific types of breast cancer cells, while an ethanol extract curtailed the proliferation of another type in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The study also found that goji polysaccharides not only influence estrogen metabolism but also activate certain cellular signaling pathways and increase the expression of a certain protein.