Cao
GW, Yang WG, Du P. [Observation of the effects of LAK/IL-2
therapy combining with Lycium barbarum polysaccharides
in the treatment of 75 cancer patients][Article in Chinese]
Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi. 1994 Nov;16(6):428-31.
PubMed
Abstract. Seventy nine advanced cancer patients in a clinical trial were treated with LAK/IL-2 combining
with Lycium Barbarum polysaccharides (LBP). Initial
results of the treatment from 75 evaluable patients
indicated that objective regression of cancer was achieved
in patients with malignant melanoma, renal cell carcinoma,
colorectal carcinoma, lung cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma,
malignant hydrothorax. The response rate of patients
treated with LAK/IL-2 plus LBP was 40.9% while that
of patients treated with LAK/IL-2 was 16.1% (P <
0.05). The mean remission in patients treated with LAK/IL-2
plus LBP also lasted significantly longer. LAK/IL-2
plus LBP treatment led to more marked increase in NK
and LAK cell activity than LAK/IL-2 without LBP. The
results indicate that LBP can be used as an adjuvant
in the biotherapy of cancer.
Searching for “lycium barbarum”,
“lycium chinense” or “wolfberry”
on the US National Library of Medicine database, PubMed
(14), finds 148 papers of interest. Eighty seven of
these are for Lycium barbarum (1991 to August 2007)
and 33 are for Lycium chinense (1963 to August 2007).
General categories of anti-disease
research on goji over the above years are
- cancer
- immune system
- eye diseases
- cardiovascular system
- metabolic syndrome
- aging
- neurological disorders
- antioxidant functions
There are only three publications to
date from North American laboratories on this berry
and four from Europe.
In the past year to August 2007, 20
new studies were cataloged on PubMed, 18 from laboratories
in China and Hong Kong, one each from India and Austria,
and none from other European countries, the United States
or Canada.
Select 2007 publications on goji (wolfberry, Lycium
barbarum), all from Chinese centers:
1. Xin YF, Zhou GL, Deng ZY, Chen YX, Wu YG, Xu PS,
Xuan YX. Protective effect of Lycium barbarum on doxorubicin-induced
cardiotoxicity. Phytother Res. 2007 Jul 11; [Epub ahead
of print]
Synopsis. The objective of this work
in rats was to test the hypothesis that Lycium barbarum
protects against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity
through antioxidant-mediated mechanisms. Where control
doxorubicin-treated animals showed signs of cardiac
injury and higher mortality, those provided orally with
25 mg/kg/day of goji extract over 3 weeks had less myocardial
fibril injury and improved overall heart function, indicating
possible antioxidant effects against cardiotoxicity.
2. Zhu J, Zhao LH, Zhao XP, Chen Z. Lycium barbarum
polysaccharides regulate phenotypic and functional maturation
of murine dendritic cells. Cell Biol Int. 2007 Jun;31(6):615-9.
Synopsis. Lycium barbarum polysaccharides
(LBPs) have been a common subject for in vitro or in
situ research on goji, with some 35 reports listed on
PubMed over 1991-2007. The tested assumption has been
that goji polysaccharides may have a variety of immunomodulatory
functions including activation of T cells, B cells and
NK cells. In this study, bone marrow dendritic cells,
which are antigen-presenting cells that may initiate
a primary immune response, were stimulated by LBPs to
produce a lymphocyte response in vitro. Such results
provide evidence that the LBPs may have immune-modulating
roles, but such an effect has not been shown following
oral ingestion of goji berries nor has it been demonstrated
conclusively in an in vivo model.
3. Li XM, Ma YL, Liu XJ. Effect of the Lycium barbarum
polysaccharides on age-related oxidative stress in aged
mice. J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 May 22;111(3):504-11.
Synopsis. This study examined age-dependent
changes in the antioxidant enzyme activity, immune function
and lipid peroxidation in aged mice provided daily oral
doses over a month of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides
(LBPs). The authors reported that endogenous lipid peroxidation,
decreased antioxidant activities, as assessed by superoxide
dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidant
capacity, and immune function were restored by oral
LBPs. Unknown, however, is whether consumption of whole
berries or goji juice would have similar results. The
fate of ingested LBPs in the digestive tract, blood
and organs can not be determined from these studies.
It is not certain if the effects observed were elicited
by LBPs or other physiological mediators.
4. Chan HC, Chang RC, Koon-Ching Ip A, Chiu K, Yuen
WH, Zee SY, So KF. Neuroprotective effects of Lycium
barbarum Lynn on protecting retinal ganglion cells in
an ocular hypertension model of glaucoma. Exp Neurol.
2007 Jan;203(1):269-73.
Synopsis. One of the most enduring
legends of eating goji is for its eye health benefit.
These scientists tested whether goji could promote the
survival of retinal ganglion cells against elevated
intraocular pressure (a model of glaucoma) induced experimentally
in rats. Oral administration of goji significantly reduced
the loss of retinal ganglion cells in the model, providing
evidence for protection against neurodegeneration during
high intraocular pressure seen in glaucoma. |
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