Evaluation of nutrients and related environmental factors for wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) fruits grown in the different areas of China

• Published in: Biochemical systematics and ecology Vol. 86; p. 103916
• Main Authors: Yajun, Wang, Xiaojie, Liang, Sujuan, Guo, Yuekun, Li, Bo, Zhang, Yue, Yin, Wei, An, Youlong, Cao, Jianhua, Zhao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2019
• Subjects: altitude; betaine; China; Environmental factors; farms; flavonoids; fruits; ingredients; iron; Lycium barbarum; manganese; nutrients; Nutritional ingredients; Oriental traditional medicine; polysaccharides; Production area; Quality evaluation; selenium; solar radiation; sugars; temperature; Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.); China; Production area; Environmental factors; Quality evaluation; Nutritional ingredients; Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.)
• ISSN: 0305-1978; 1873-2925
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bse.2019.103916

The wolfberry (Lycium barbarumL.) fruit has been used in traditional Chinese medicine and food, but fruits grown in various geographic areas are significantly different in quality and content of functional components. In this study, we tested the internal nutritional ingredients and related environmental factors using forty-two wolfberry fruits collected from seven wolfberry producing regions in China (Yinchuan and Zhongning in Ningxia, Jingyuan in Gansu, Nuomuhong Farm in Qinghai,Hangjinhouqi and Wulateqianqi in Inner Mongolia, and Jinghe in Xinjiang). The nutritional ingredients of the forty-two wolfberry fruits are dependent on the environment. Correlation analysis revealed that the amount of nutrients was highly related to each other. Based on the analysis ofratio of total sugar to betaine (sugar-alkali ratio), we have successfully established quality standards for the wolfberry based on the levels of betaine and sugar. The standards were as follows: high betaine low sugar (sugar-alkali ratio≤15.1), high betaine medium sugar (15<sugar-alkali ratio≤60), medium betaine medium sugar (60<sugar-alkali ratio≤121), medium betaine high sugar (121<sugar-alkali ratio≤165), and low betaine high sugar (sugar-alkali ratio>165). Zhongning of Ningxia is the geo-authentic producing region of the wolfberry, whereby the wolfberries are rich in main pharmacological ingredients Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) and three trace elements (iron, manganese and selenium) and medium sugar-alkali ratio. In addition, the correlation analysis showed that both the altitude and average temperature difference between day and night had positive effects on the wolfberry flavonoids content but the annual sunshine duration negatively affected the betaine contents of the wolfberry fruit. •We collected forty-two ‘Ningqi 1’ wolfberry samples from seven regions of China, and tested their internal nutritional ingredients.•Based on sugar-alkali ratio of the samples in this study, the wolfberry fruits were categorized into five quality levels.•The altitude, average temperature difference between day and night and annual sunshine duration greatly affected the quality of wolfberry fruit.