Efficacy and side effects of wolfberry

Eating wolfberry regularly is very beneficial, but everyone also knows that "things must go to extremes to reverse". Eating too much wolfberry will also have side effects. Today, the editor has compiled some relevant knowledge about wolfberry. Let's learn more about it.

What are the effects of wolfberry

Immune regulation

Wolfberry is rich in wolfberry polysaccharide. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide is a water-soluble polysaccharide composed of six monosaccharide components: arabinose, glucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, and rhamnose. It has physiological activity and can enhance non-specific immune function, improve disease resistance, and inhibit tumor growth and cell mutation.

Anti-aging

Immunosenescence is closely related to cell apoptosis. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) can significantly improve the phagocytic function of phagocytes and enhance the proliferation ability of lymphocytes.

Anti-tumor

Lycium barbarum polysaccharide is not only a biological response regulator that regulates immune responses, but also can exert anti-cancer effects through the neuro-endocrine-immune regulatory network.

Anti-fatigue

Wolfberry polysaccharide can significantly increase the muscle glycogen and liver glycogen reserves of mice, increase the total activity of blood lactate dehydrogenase before and after exercise, reduce the increase in blood urea nitrogen in mice after strenuous exercise, and accelerate the clearance rate of blood urea nitrogen after exercise. This shows that wolfberry polysaccharide has a very obvious effect on eliminating fatigue.

Resistance to radiation damage

Wolfberry has the effect of resisting Y-ray radiation and protecting the body. It can be used as an auxiliary drug to cooperate with anti-tumor treatments such as radiotherapy to reduce the toxic and side effects of radiotherapy, improve the efficacy, and protect the body's immune function.

Regulate blood lipids

Wolfberry can effectively reduce the levels of triglycerides and bile in the serum of rats with hyperlipidemia. It has obvious functions of lowering blood lipids and regulating lipid metabolism, and has a positive effect on preventing cardiovascular diseases.

Lower blood sugar

Lycium barbarum polysaccharide can significantly enhance the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in damaged islet cells, improve the antioxidant capacity of islet cells, reduce peroxide damage to cells, and reduce the production of internal dialdehyde. This shows that wolfberry polysaccharide has a certain protective effect on islet cells.

Lower blood pressure

Lycium barbarum polysaccharide can reduce blood pressure in rats (both systolic and diastolic blood pressure are effective); reduce the content of malondialdehyde and endothelin in plasma and blood vessels, increase the release of calcitonin gene-related peptide, and prevent the formation of hypertension.

Protect the reproductive system

Lycium barbarum polysaccharide can increase serum sex hormone levels in rats with testicular damage; increase the organ coefficients of testicles and epididymis, increase SOD activity in rat testicular tissue, reduce malondialdehyde content, and restore damaged testicular tissue to near normal levels.

Improve eyesight

The human body’s retinal photoreceptors are composed of retinol and opsin. The abundant B-carotene contained in wolfberry can be converted into vitamin A in the human body, and vitamin A can produce retinol, thereby improving vision and preventing macular disease.

Improve respiratory disease resistance

Wolfberry is rich in carotene, which can be converted into vitamin A in the human body. It has the function of maintaining the normal growth and differentiation of epithelial tissue. When the amount is sufficient, it can prevent nose, pharynx, throat and other respiratory tract infections and improve respiratory disease resistance.

Beautify and nourish the skin, moisturize the skin

Skin aging is mainly caused by free radical oxidation, and the wolfberry polysaccharides and B-carotene contained in wolfberry are powerful antioxidants. Together with the synergistic effect of the trace elements selenium and vitamin E contained in wolfberry, they form a powerful antioxidant force; in addition, vitamin A can maintain the growth and differentiation of epithelial tissue, prevent dry skin and keratinization of hair follicles, thus playing a role in beautifying and moisturizing the skin.

What are the side effects of wolfberry

Wolfberry is toxic

The LD50 of the fruit water-soluble extract injected through the skin of mice was 83.2g/kg; the LD50 of betaine hydrochloride injected through the skin of mice was 18.7g/kg. The median lethal dose of water-soluble wolfberry extract in mice intraperitoneally injected was 83.2g/kg; the median lethal dose of betaine hydrochloride in mice intraperitoneally injected was 18g/kg. Betaine enters the body and is excreted in its original form. Rats were injected intravenously with 2.4g/kg, and no toxic reactions were seen. Mice were injected intraperitoneally with 25g/kg, and within 10 minutes, systemic convulsions and respiratory arrest occurred.

Eating wolfberry often will cause internal heat

Excessive consumption can cause internal heat, nosebleeds, and even red, swollen and uncomfortable eyes.

These people cannot take wolfberry

Wolfberry has the effect of warming the body, so people who are too impatient or suffer from high blood pressure should eat less; people with weak spleen and stomach should eat less; friends who are suffering from colds, fever, spleen deficiency, diarrhea, and body inflammation are best not to eat it.

The article lists the effects of 12 kinds of wolfberry. Although compared with them, the side effects of wolfberry are really inconspicuous, but everyone cannot ignore the side effects of wolfberry. If you want to achieve the best nourishing effect of wolfberry, you must choose the correct method of taking wolfberry.