Origin & tradition
Gou Qi Zi (枸杞) has been used in Chinese medicine for over two millennia as a liver-and-kidney tonic associated with longevity and vision.
Eastern tradition · Tonic Berry
Goji (Lycium) 枸杞
The classic Chinese longevity berry, rich in polysaccharides and carotenoids studied for eye, immune, and oxidative health.
33ClinicalTrials.gov matched
33PubMed RCT records
15Meta-analysis records
5+PubMed records
Lycium barbarum polysaccharides & zeaxanthinKey active compound
Data definition. Matched records include all indexed medical endpoints for this intervention — not only longevity. Longevity-relevant records are screened separately and cited in the evidence summary below. Counts are matched-record volumes, not de-duplicated trials and not efficacy claims.
Why longevity buyers care
Key active: Lycium barbarum polysaccharides & zeaxanthin (botanical extract).
Lycium barbarum polysaccharides and zeaxanthin are studied for antioxidant defense, macular protection, and immune modulation; human trials cluster around eye health and metabolic markers.
Effect summary
Studied health outcomes
Editorial summary — This table is curated by hand from published research consensus, not automatically calculated from our trial database. Grades reflect our interpretation of the literature. Treat as a starting point, not a definitive verdict. See the Evidence panel below for the underlying trial and paper counts sourced directly from ClinicalTrials.gov and PubMed.
| Health outcome | Effect | Magnitude | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant markers (blood) | Increases | Moderate | B |
| Eye health (zeaxanthin / macular pigment) | Increases | Moderate | B |
| Immune function | Increases | Minor | C |
| Skin UV protection | Increases | Minor | C |
| Blood glucose | Decreases | Minor | C |
Grade: A = robust RCTs · B = several RCTs / meta-analysis · C = limited or mixed RCTs · D = observational or early data
Dosage guidance
How Goji (Lycium) is typically used
- Typical dose
- 15–30 g/day dried berries or 150–300 mg standardized extract
- Form
- dried berries, juice, or capsule (standardized to polysaccharides)
- Timing
- any time; often eaten as snack or added to tea
Rich in zeaxanthin (eye health) and polysaccharides (immune). Juice products vary widely in concentration — whole dried berries are more reliable. May interact with warfarin.
Informational only — not a prescription or personalised medical advice. Consult a qualified clinician before starting any supplement or medication.
Evidence summary
What the research actually says
72Evidence confidence
Human RCT evidence33 randomized controlled trials · 15 meta-analyses / systematic reviews
Human trials on eye/metabolic markers; longevity link mechanistic
Lycium barbarum polysaccharides and zeaxanthin are studied for antioxidant defense, macular protection, and immune modulation; human trials cluster around eye health and metabolic markers.
33registered clinical trials reference this intervention
3selected from 5+ PubMed papers (longevity / aging angle)
- Optimization of the extraction of bioactive molecules from Lycium barbarum fruits and evaluation of the antioxidant activity: a combined study
- Lycium barbarum polysaccharides promote longevity and healthspan in Caenorhabditis elegans via insulin/IGF-1 signalling and lipid metabolic remodelling
- Black goji berry anthocyanins extend lifespan and enhance the antioxidant defenses in Caenorhabditis elegans via the JNK-1 and DAF-16/FOXO pathways
Key active: Lycium barbarum polysaccharides & zeaxanthin (botanical extract) — a multi-compound botanical extract, so activity is not reducible to a single molecule.
According to PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov: trial counts from ClinicalTrials.gov, peer-reviewed literature from PubMed. Counts auto-refresh weekly; last checked 2026-07-19. They include trials across many endpoints, not only longevity.
Informational only — not medical advice, a treatment claim, or a substitute for a qualified clinician. Evidence strength varies; we show mixed and null results on purpose.
Evidence collections