Search Results (132)

Gluten-free cakes formulated solely with rice flour frequently exhibit limited volume, weak internal structures, and rapid quality deterioration. This study investigated the effects of replacing rice flour with 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12% goji berry powder (GBP) in gluten-free cupcakes. Physical properties, texture profile, crumb porosity, crust and crumb color, flour pasting behavior, and antioxidant properties were evaluated. Moderate GBP addition improved cupcake quality, with the 6% treatment showing the greatest height (45.17 mm) and specific volume (3.64 cm³/g), the lowest hardness (327.50 g), the highest springiness (9.25 mm), and the largest average pore area (0.42 mm²). In contrast, higher substitution levels (9–12%) increased moisture and reduced baking loss but caused a decline in specific volume and a marked increase in hardness. GBP progressively darkened the product, especially the crumb, while significantly enhancing total phenolic content and DPPH radical-scavenging activity from 55.46 to 67.36 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g and from 4.85 to 15.08 mg ascorbic acid equivalents (AAE)/100 g, respectively. Monotonic decreases in peak, trough, final, and setback viscosities were observed, indicating reduced starch swelling and retrogradation tendencies as the GBP level increased. GBP at 6% showed the most balanced overall performance, while 12% maximized the antioxidant response at the expense of structural quality. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with goji berries (Lycium barbarum) on the nutritional profile, oxidative stability, and shelf life of rabbit meat. Thirty-two rabbits were assigned to two dietary treatments: a control diet (CN) and the same diet supplemented with 3% dried goji berries (GJ). Proximate composition and fatty acid profile of the Longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle were determined at dissection, whereas physical, microbiological, and biochemical parameters were evaluated during refrigerated storage (4 °C; 1, 4, and 10 days) and frozen storage (−20 °C; 60 and 120 days). Dietary supplementation significantly modified the lipid profile of the meat, reducing saturated fatty acids and increasing long-chain n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. During refrigerated storage, lipid peroxidation increased in both groups; however, meat from the GJ group showed significantly lower TBARS values after 10 days (0.22 vs. 0.33 mg MDA/kg; p < 0.001), indicating improved oxidative stability. Lower accumulation of total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), reduced formation of biogenic amines, and slower growth of spoilage-related microbial populations, particularly Pseudomonas spp., were also observed in GJ samples. Overall, the GJ diet improved fatty acid composition and delayed degradative processes during storage, suggesting its potential as a functional feed ingredient to enhance rabbit meat quality and shelf life. Full article

Goji, a plant unique to China, is recognized for its dual use as both a food and a medicine and is rich in various nutrients. However, long-term asexual propagation often leads to cultivar degeneration and viral accumulation, which severely impact its yield, quality, and disease resistance. Homozygous seeds can stably produce offspring with uniform traits. Haploid breeding technology, which involves doubling the chromosomes of haploid plants to obtain homozygous diploids, can significantly accelerate the breeding process. The DMP (Domain of Unknown Function 679 Membrane Protein) family is a plant-specific family of membrane proteins involved in various biological functions, including physiological processes, reproductive development, and senescence. Concurrently, loss-of-function of the DMP gene impedes the proper integration of the paternal genome following fertilization. Consequently, the embryo develops with exclusively maternal chromosomes, a mechanism that underlies the induction of haploids. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide identification of the DMP gene family in goji, analyzing the physicochemical properties, chromosomal locations, cis-acting elements, phylogenetic relationships, sequence characteristics, expression patterns, and subcellular localization of its members. The objective was to identify DMP genes capable of inducing haploid production in goji berry for future breeding applications. The results revealed a total of 11 DMP family members in the goji berry genome, distributed across seven chromosomes. The proteins encoded by these members contain 136 to 237 amino acids, with molecular weights ranging from 15,267.96 to 26,141.01 Da and isoelectric points (pI) ranging from 5.14 to 9.32. The LbDMPs were found to contain numerous cis-acting elements that play roles in plant responses to abiotic stresses and various phytohormones. Notably, LbDMP1 and LbDMP11, which contain the typical DUF679 domain, are predominantly expressed in pollen, suggesting their involvement in the reproductive process of goji berry. They were therefore identified as candidate genes for haploid induction. Subcellular localization analysis demonstrated that LbDMP1 is localized to the plasma membrane, while LbDMP11 is localized to membrane systems such as the endoplasmic reticulum. This research provides a fundamental basis for further exploration of the functional roles of the DMP gene family in goji berry and offers valuable genetic resources for haploid induction in its breeding programs. Full article

Background: Lycium barbarum L. is gaining significant interest as a medicinal and culinary raw material. The quality and aroma are significantly influenced by metabolite accumulation, which differs based on origins and drying methods. Methods: This study utilizes gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to analyze the metabolic profiles of the ‘Ningqi’ No. 1 variety from three distinct origins employing two drying techniques (natural sun drying, NSD; hot-air drying, HAD). The samples include Zhongping, Ningxia, with HAD (1-1); Zhongning, Ningxia, with NSD (1-2); Wuwei, Gansu, with NSD (1-3); Nuomuhong, Qinghai, with NSD (1-4); and Nuomuhong, Qinghai, with HAD (1-5). Results: The study found that aldehydes, esters, ketones and alcohol are key secondary metabolites generated during NSD and HAD treatments of goji berry from various regions. Flavor analysis revealed the compound Ethanol, 2-phenoxy- (balsamic) was up accumulated in goji berry from Qinghai drying with NSD compared with HAD; goji berry drying with HAD collected from Ningxia compared with Qinghai; goji berry drying with NSD collected from Gansu compared with Ningxia; and goji berry drying with NSD collected from Qinghai compared with Ningxia. The compound 2-Thiophenemethanol (burnt) was up accumulated in goji berry drying with HAD collected from Ningxia compared with Qinghai. Further flavor analysis revealed that the compound Undecanal (floral) was up accumulated in goji berry drying with NSD collected from Qinghai compared with Ningxia and Gansu. 1H-Pyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde (burnt), 1-ethyl- (burnt) was up accumulated in goji berry drying with NSD collected from Qinghai compared with Gansu. KEGG enrichment analysis suggests that ‘Arginine and proline metabolism’ could be the primary metabolic pathway in the goji berry drying process. Conclusions: This study examined how origins and drying methods affected the metabolites and metabolic pathways of goji berries to elucidate the mechanisms impacting their quality and flavor. The findings provide important insights into the use of goji berries in functional foods and pharmaceuticals. Full article

Honey’s medicinal properties are largely attributed to its antioxidant activity, mainly derived from flavonoids, phenolic acids, and their derivatives. Fruit berries, such as goji berries, sea buckthorn, and black currant, are particularly rich in vitamins, phenolic compounds, and minerals, providing high nutritional and pharmacological value. Enrichment of rapeseed honey with dried fruits significantly increased total phenolic content, with the highest value observed in honey containing goji berries (111.221 ± 20.551 mg GAE/100 g), followed by black currant (96.477 ± 31.053 mg GAE/100 g) and sea buckthorn (90.724 ± 19.72 mg GAE/100 g), compared to control honey (49.681 ± 14.44 mg GAE/100 g). Antioxidant activity, assessed by multiple assays, was markedly enhanced in functional foods based on rape honey and dried fruits, particularly those with black currant, followed by goji berries and sea buckthorn. Romanian rapeseed honey contained phenolic acids such as gallic, chlorogenic, 4-hydroxybenzoic, and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acids, and flavonoids including quercetin and naringin. Functional food based on rape honey and goji berries (GBH) showed the highest levels of chlorogenic and gallic acids, epicatechin, and rutin, while functional food based on rape honey and sea buckthorn (SBH) was rich in naringin and resveratrol. Functional food based on rape honey and black currant (BCH) exhibited elevated gallic acid and rutin. Potassium and magnesium were the predominant minerals in all samples. Overall, berry enrichment enhances the nutritional and antioxidant profile of honey, supporting immune function and general health. Full article

Background: Amidst the pressing need to balance global food security and climate governance, achieving synergistic optimisation between crop yield enhancement and agricultural greenhouse gas reduction has become the central imperative for advancing the transition to green agriculture. Purpose: To investigate the effects of cropping systems and nitrogen fertiliser application on goji berry production systems in arid regions. Method: This study employed two cropping systems (goji berry–alfalfa intercropping (I), goji berry monocropping (M)), and four nitrogen application rates (N0 (0 kg ha⁻¹), N1 (150 kg ha⁻¹), N2 (300 kg ha⁻¹), N3 (450 kg ha⁻¹)). The effects of planting patterns and nitrogen fertiliser regulation on the physicochemical properties of goji berry farmland soil, greenhouse gas emissions, and yield were analysed. Result: (1) Soil temperatures under I were significantly lower than under M, and nitrogen application levels, cropping systems, and the interaction between nitrogen application and cropping systems significantly influenced soil nutrients; (2) Cultivation patterns and nitrogen application levels exerted a highly significant influence on soil greenhouse gas emission fluxes in goji berry fields. CO₂ emission flux peaked under IN3 treatment (annual average: 342.45 mg m⁻² h⁻¹), while N₂O emissions peaked under MN3 (annual average 0.23 mg m⁻² h⁻¹). CH₄ absorption was highest under MN0 (annual average −0.25 mg m⁻² h⁻¹); (3) Cropping systems and nitrogen application rates significantly influence greenhouse gas indicators including cumulative CO₂ emissions, cumulative N₂O emissions, and GWP. At the same nitrogen application level, GWP decreased by 5.63% on average in M compared to I, while under the same cropping system, N3 increased by 62.45% on average in N3 compared to N0; (4) Cropping systems and nitrogen application levels significantly influenced goji berry yield and economic returns. Under the same cropping system, N2 yielded the highest goji berry production and return on investment, with I and M yielding 2768.99 kg ha⁻¹ and 4.06 and 3067.78 kg ha⁻¹ and 3.15, respectively. Conclusions: The IN2 reduced soil greenhouse gas emission fluxes, cumulative emissions, and global warming potential while simultaneously increasing goji berry yield, net revenue, and return on investment. This approach minimises land resource wastage and represents a management model for achieving high yields with reduced emissions in goji berry fields within the Yellow River diversion irrigation districts of Gansu Province and similar ecological zones. Full article

Goji berry consumption provides various beneficial health effects, although little is known about the possible toxicological and pro-oxidant effects. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the subchronic oral toxicity of goji berry juice (GBJ) for 28 days in Wistar rats (OECD 407). The GBJ was prepared in a blender with water and then filtered. The total phenolic compounds were evaluated using the Folin method (μg equivalent of gallic acid/mL juice). Forty 90-day-old female Wistar rats were divided into four groups of 10 animals each. The control group received an oral saline solution of 1 mL/100 g, and the treatments received daily doses of 1.85, 5.68, and 11.36 μg GAE/100 g for 28 days. Our findings revealed that GBJ does not alter animal body weight or food intake, although we observed higher hepatic transaminase levels and reactive species generation in the liver and kidney, which may have led to imbalanced antioxidant defenses and damaged lipids and proteins. Additionally, we observed kidney damage with increased Bowman space. Our 28-day findings indicate that goji berry juice at doses equivalent to typical human consumption can induce early redox imbalances and hepatic and renal biochemical alterations in female Wistar rats, warranting caution and further long-term, sex-inclusive studies. Full article

Background/Objectives: In the context of increasing consumer demand for high-quality meat, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of 4% fermented goji berry residue supplementation on meat quality and flavor characteristics in finishing Tan sheep. Methods: Thirty-six male lambs were randomly assigned to a control and FGB group and fed for 68 days. Results: FGB supplementation significantly enhanced Longissimus Dorsi (LD) brightness (L*), redness (a*), and crude protein content, while reducing crude fat (p < 0.05). Amino acid analysis revealed significant increases in lysine, methionine, histidine, glycine, proline, arginine, cysteine, and total sweet-tasting amino acids in the FGB group (p < 0.05). Lactate and inosine monophosphate (IMP) levels were significantly elevated, whereas hypoxanthine levels decreased (p < 0.05). Metabolomics identified 189 metabolites, with 12 differentially expressed, mainly enriched in butanoate metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, PI3K-Akt, and HIF-1 signaling pathways. Transcriptomics revealed 382 differentially expressed genes, including key regulators of lipid metabolism (FOXO1, SLC2A4, LPIN1, IGF1, SPP1) and amino acid metabolism (COL3A1, GLUL, PSMC1). Conclusions: Fermented goji residue altered amino acid and lipid metabolism in the LD muscle of Tan sheep, affecting meat quality and flavor traits. However, effects on color (L*, a*, b*), protein content, and shear force varied across the four muscles studied, indicating that responses to supplementation are muscle-specific. These findings offer a sustainable strategy for improving meat quality and provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying flavor development in ruminants. Full article

To address the issue of low depth estimation accuracy in complex goji berry orchards, this paper proposes a method for identifying and locating goji berries that combines the YOLO-VitBiS object detection network with stereo vision technology. Based on the YOLO11n backbone network, the C3K2 module in the backbone is first improved using the AdditiveBlock module to enhance its detail-capturing capability in complex environments. The AdditiveBlock introduces lightweight long-range interactions via residual additive operations, thereby strengthening global context modeling without significantly increasing computation. Subsequently, a weighted bidirectional feature pyramid network is introduced into the Neck to enable more flexible and efficient feature fusion. Finally, a lightweight shared detail-enhanced detection head is proposed to further reduce the network’s computational complexity and parameter count. The enhanced model is integrated with binocular stereo vision technology, employing the CREStereo depth estimation algorithm for disparity calculation during binocular stereo matching to derive the three-dimensional spatial coordinates of the goji berry target. This approach enables efficient and precise positioning. Experimental results demonstrate that the YOLO-VitBiS model achieves a detection accuracy of $96.6\%$, with a model size of $4.3\mathrm{MB}$ and only $1.856\mathrm{M}$ parameters. Compared to the traditional SGBM method and other deep learning approaches such as UniMatch, the CREStereo algorithm generates superior depth maps under complex conditions. Within a distance range of 400 mm to 1000 mm, the average relative error between the estimated and actual depth measurements is $2.42\%$, meeting the detection and ranging accuracy requirements for field operations and providing reliable recognition and localization support for subsequent goji berry harvesting robots. Full article

High-altitude exposure poses significant health challenges to mountaineers, military personnel, travelers, and indigenous residents. Altitude-related illnesses encompass acute conditions such as acute mountain sickness (AMS), high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), and high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE), and chronic manifestations like chronic mountain sickness (CMS). Hypobaric hypoxia induces oxidative stress and inflammatory cascades, causing alterations in multiple organ systems through co-related amplification mechanisms. Therefore, this review aims to systematically discuss the injury mechanisms and comprehensive intervention strategies involved in high-altitude diseases. In summary, these pathologies involve key damage pathways: oxidative stress activates inflammatory pathways through NF-κB and NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain-associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes; energy depletion impairs calcium homeostasis, leading to cellular calcium overload; mitochondrial dysfunction amplifies injury through mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening and apoptotic factor release. These mechanisms could be converged in organ-specific patterns—blood–brain barrier disruption in HACE, stress failure in HAPE, and right heart dysfunction in chronic exposure. Promising strategies include multi-level therapeutic approaches targeting oxygenation (supplemental oxygen, acetazolamide), specific pathway modulation (antioxidants, calcium channel blockers, HIF-1α regulators), and damage repair (glucocorticoids). Notably, functional foods show significant therapeutic potential: dietary nitrates (beetroot) enhance oxygen delivery, tea polyphenols and anthocyanins (black goji berry) provide antioxidant effects, and traditional herbal bioactives (astragaloside, ginsenosides) offer multi-targeted organ protection. Full article

WUSCHEL-related homeobox plays important roles in diverse biological processes, such as plant growth and development, hormonal homeostasis, and abiotic stress adaptation. Lycium barbarum (goji berry) is a model species for studying regeneration in woody plants; however, the LbWOX gene family has yet to be characterized. This work reports a genomic and transcriptomic characterization of the LbWOX gene family in Lycium barbarum. Eighteen LbWOX genes were identified with uneven distribution across eight chromosomes. These genes were grouped into three subfamilies via phylogenetic classification. Additionally, cis-regulatory element characterization suggests that the expression of LbWOX genes is mainly influenced by plant differentiation, phytohormones, and various abiotic stresses. Expression profiles derived from RNA-Seq of root, stem, leaf, and fruit revealed that all eighteen genes were expressed. Notably, LbWOX1 and LbWOX4 were highly expressed in leaves, suggesting a role in leaf growth and a potential to enhance differentiation capacity. Furthermore, LbWOX4 showed elevated expression in roots and stems, an association with vascular development that implicates them as prime candidates for enhancing adventitious root formation during cutting propagation. This work represents the first genome-wide analysis of the LbWOX genes, integrating high-throughput RNA-Seq to characterize the function of all eighteen identified members. Our research provides further insights for future studies of LbWOX gene functions in wolfberry. Full article

Goji berries (Lycium barbarum L.) are valued for their nutritional and medicinal properties; however, the systematic biochemical impact of drying on their quality remains poorly understood. This study applied an untargeted metabolomics approach based on UHPLC-HRMS and AntDAS to profile metabolic changes during sun-drying. Multivariate analyses (PCA and PLS-DA) revealed distinct time-dependent clustering, indicating significant shifts in the metabolome. Key metabolites, including betaine, galactose, and trans-ferulic acid, increased significantly (p < 0.05), whereas choline, allantoin, and huperzine isomers decreased. Pathway analysis highlighted glycine, serine, threonine, galactose, and phenylpropanoid metabolism as the central pathways that were affected. These differential metabolites could potentially be used as quality biomarkers. Our findings establish untargeted metabolomics as an effective tool for elucidating the evolution of goji berry quality during drying, offering a theoretical basis for process optimization. Full article

We developed a model to predict the quality of fresh goji berries during storage by analyzing the correlations of their dielectric properties. The variations in these properties with storage temperature, time, and frequency were systematically characterized to inform the model. Leveraging these relationships, we developed a model to predict quality. The analysis integrated measurements of dielectric properties with assessments of texture and key physicochemical indicators. Results indicate that dielectric parameters exhibit significant frequency dependence. Complex impedance (Z), capacitance (Cp), and resistance (Rp) all decreased sharply with increasing frequency, with the most pronounced change observed in Cp. Conductance, G, and reactance, X, increased with frequency, reaching maximum increases of 360.86% and 87.79%, respectively. Under the specific test frequency of 163,280 Hz, a strong polynomial relationship was observed between the dielectric parameters and storage time, with all fitted models yielding ${\mathit{R}}_{adj}^2$ values above 0.94. The quality factor Q (a dimensionless number for the energy efficiency of a resonant circuit or medium) showed a near-perfect correlation with brittleness, while reactance, X, was correlated with springiness and cohesiveness, with correlation coefficients approaching 0.999 under the optimal test frequency. The constructed ANN model demonstrated high prediction accuracy for hardness, brittleness, elasticity, cohesiveness, chewiness, and soluble solids content (R² > 0.97, MSE < 5%) but performed poorly in predicting adhesiveness, stickiness, and rebound elasticity (R² < 0.9). The constructed LSSVM model showed good prediction performance for some indicators (hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, and SSC) (R² > 0.94), but its prediction accuracy was low for brittleness and chewiness (R² < 0.9). Overall, its performance and generalization ability were inferior to the ANN model. This study shows that ANN models based on dielectric properties establish a technical foundation for the non-destructive, automated monitoring of goji berry storage quality, thereby providing a critical tool for dynamic quality tracking and value assessment within integrated warehouse management systems. Full article

Agricultural diversification represents an important strategy for promoting sustainability and resilience in rural regions. Goji berries (Lycium barbarum) have emerged as a promising alternative crop due to their high nutritional and functional potential. In this sense, the search for new crops to diversify the production in southwestern Spain is of main interest for farmers to adapt their productions to consumers claims and to climate change, having alternatives to the classical crops (olives, grapes for wine, etc.). This study evaluated several quality related parameters of three goji berry varieties cultivated in the southwest of Spain. Texture profile analysis (TPA) and puncture tests revealed varietal differences in firmness, cohesiveness, and springiness, influenced by genotype and harvesting time. Other morphological and quality parameters such as moisture, total soluble solids, titratable acidity and color were also affected. Significant differences in antioxidant capacity (ABTS and DPPH assays) were found among the varieties and harvesting times, with NQ7 exhibiting the highest values. Phenolic compounds were identified and quantified by LC–HRMS/MS, detecting 33 compounds, with most belonging to the hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonols and flavanones families. NQ7 presented the highest total phenolic content (74.787 mg/100 g DW), with rutin, coumaric acid derivatives, and naringenin as major contributors. The correlation analysis confirmed a strong relationship between total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. Overall, the results indicated that goji berries grown in southwestern Spain exhibited favorable quality and bioactive profiles, supporting their suitability for sustainable production and commercialization, including further applications as functional food ingredients. Full article

Goji berry is a rich source of polyphenols, carotenoids and polysaccharides, contributing to its diverse biological activities. Due to their high water content and perishability, the berries are often processed into dried forms or juices. This study hypothesized that juice obtained from Serbian-grown goji berries would exhibit a distinctive phytochemical composition and significant in vitro antioxidant and hypoglycemic potential. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, FRAP and β-carotene bleaching assays, while hypoglycemic potential was evaluated via α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition. The analyzed goji juice exhibited mild acidity and moderate sweetness. In terms of bioactive composition, the juice contained high levels of polyphenols (194.50 ± 3.88 mg GAE/100 mL) exceeding the values reported for most commercial fruit juices, as well as notable levels of flavonoids (70.30 ± 5.11 mg CE/100 mL), carotenoids (289.53 ± 0.65 µg/100 mL) and polysaccharides (375.20 ± 12.46 mg Glu/100 mL), along with minerals, particularly potassium and copper. It also showed strong antioxidant capacity and concentration-dependent inhibition of α-amylase (IC₅₀ = 5.28 ± 0.26 mg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC₅₀ = 10.12 ± 0.23 mg/mL). This study provides the first comprehensive characterization of Serbian-grown goji berry juice, confirming its potential as a functional ingredient. Full article