Introduction

Lycium fruits, commonly known as "goji berries," are recognized as superfoods with diverse bioactive properties. Lycium chinense has been introduced in the dendrological park "Olexandria" in the northeastern part of the Right Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine, yet data on the bioactivity of the goji berries grown there remain limited. This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant and anticancer potential of L. chinense cultivated in Ukraine.

Methods

Defatted berries were extracted with methanol/water (60:40, v/v) using a Soxhlet apparatus. The extract was used for the determination of total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) through the Folin–Ciocalteu and AlCl3 procedures, respectively. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH radical scavenging and β-carotene bleaching assays, while antiproliferative effects were evaluated by the MTT assay.

Results

The hydroalcoholic extraction of goji berries under the previously described conditions yielded 16.9% in dry weight. TPC was 11.3 mg GAE/g DW fruits, while TFC was 7,3 mg rutin/g DW. The extract demonstrated significant antioxidant capacity (DPPH IC50 = 125.9 ± 12.6 µg/ml) and lipid peroxidation inhibition (23.5 ± 2.1% in the β-carotene assay). The MTT assay showed concentration- and time-dependent inhibition of HT-29 colorectal cancer cells (GI50 at 72 h = 250 µg/ml) with a selectivity index (SI) of 13 against CCD-18 normal cells, indicating strong selectivity.

Conclusions

This is the first study to report on the antioxidant and anticancer properties of L. chinense cultivated in Ukraine. The findings suggest that Ukrainian goji berries are a promising source of natural antioxidants and demonstrate notable antiproliferative effects on HT-29 cells. Further research should explore the goji berries' polyphenolic composition, assess their local cultivars, and investigate potential uses for goji berry by-products.