Comparison of Functional Components and Antioxidant Activity of <i>Lycium barbarum</i> L. Fruits from Different Regions in China
Youyuan Lu,
Sheng Guo,
Fang Zhang,
Hui Yan,
Da-Wei Qian,
Han-Qing Wang,
Ling Jin,
Jin-Ao Duan
Affiliations
Youyuan Lu
Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Resources Recycling Utilization, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
Sheng Guo
Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Resources Recycling Utilization, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
Fang Zhang
Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Resources Recycling Utilization, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
Hui Yan
Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Resources Recycling Utilization, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
Da-Wei Qian
Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Resources Recycling Utilization, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
Han-Qing Wang
School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750021, China
Ling Jin
School of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, China
Jin-Ao Duan
Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Resources Recycling Utilization, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
The fruit of Lycium barbarum L. (FLB) has been used as medicines and functional foods for more than 2000 years in East Asia. In this study, carotenoid, phenolic, flavonoid, and polysaccharide contents as well as the antioxidant activities of FLB from 13 different regions in China from a total of 78 samples were analyzed. The results showed that total carotenoid contents ranged from 12.93 to 25.35 mg β-carotene equivalents/g DW. Zeaxanthin dipalmitate was the predominant carotenoid (4.260−10.07 mg/g DW) in FLB. The total phenolic, total flavonoid, and total polysaccharide contents ranged from 6.899 to 8.253 mg gallic acid equivalents/g DW, 3.177 to 6.144 mg rutin equivalents/g DW, and 23.62 to 42.45 mg/g DW, respectively. Rutin content ranged from 0.1812 to 0.4391 mg/g DW, and ferulic acid content ranged from 0.0994 to 0.1726 mg/g DW. All of these FLB could be divided into two clusters with PCA analysis, and both individual carotenoids and total carotenoid contents could be used as markers for regional characterization. The phenolic components were the main substance for the antioxidant activity of FLB. Considering the functional component and antioxidant activities, FLB produced in Guyuan of Ningxia was the closest to Daodi herbs (Zhongwei of Ningxia), which is commercially available high quality FLB. The results of this study could provide guidance for comprehensive applications of FLB production in different regions.