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Carotenoids are a class of natural pigments with an isoprene structure. Due to its highly unsaturated structure, carotenoids are unstable in vitro and prone to isomerisation and degradation during processing and storage affected by factors such as light, heat, and oxygen. Lycium barbarum L. is rich in carotenoids, mainly zeaxanthin ester, which differs from carotenoids found in common fruits and vegetables. Therefore, it is of great significance to understand the stability of carotenoids of Lycium barbarum L. to promote the comprehensive utilization of colored food matrix. This paper briefly reviews the carotenoids compositions of Lycium barbarum L., focusing on the effects of processing methods (drying, mechanical crushing, fermentation, etc.), food antioxidants (vitamin C, citric acid, vitamin E) and environmental factors (light, storage temperature, oxygen, etc.) on the stability of Lycium barbarum L. carotenoids. The degradation pathways and products of carotenoids during processing and storage in Lycium barbarum L. are summarized. Carotenoids are enriched by preparation of liposomes, microcapsules and nano-emulsion, and the addition of food antioxidants or edible oils can delay the oxidation of pigments and improve the stability of carotenoids in Lycium barbarum L., to provide references for the efficient utilization of Lycium barbarum L. carotenoids and the development of special medical foods and health products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lycium barbarum L. (goji), as an economic crop, has a high added value. However, the tender and fragile fruits are easily damaged during harvesting and transportation, leading to fruit bruising, which can cause rotting or black–brown spots after drying, seriously affecting the quality and price. In this study, two varieties of goji were used to determine and evaluate fruit bruising using a pendulum impact test, and the impact process was recorded using a high-speed camera and impact force sensor. This study discussed the energy changes during the impact process of fruits and conducted a correlation analysis of the impact energy, absorbed energy, restitution coefficient, impact force, and other indicators, analyzing the changes in each indicator with the falling height. The results showed that 0.2 m could be considered a critical height for damaging the fruit of goji. Furthermore, this study calculated the bruise susceptibility of the different varieties at different heights, which can be used for predicting bruising during the harvesting and collection of goji berries and ultimately for estimating the damage caused by mechanical harvesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the pursuit of a comprehensive understanding of differential metabolites and metabolic pathways between red wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.) and yellow wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L. var. auranticarpum K.F.Ching), an analytical approach integrating ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem high-resolution mass spectrometry was employed, alongside a broadly targeted metabolomics strategy. Through multivariate statistical methods such as principal component analysis, orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis, and cluster analysis, under the conditions of fold change ≥2 or ≤0.5, variable importance projection value ≥1, and P<0.05, 202 differential metabolites (148 up-regulated and 54 down-regulated) were detected in red and yellow wolfberries under positive ion mode. A total of 240 differential metabolites (183 up-regulated and 57 down-regulated) were detected in the negative ion mode. Subsequent KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that these differential metabolites were predominantly associated with secondary metabolite, tryptophan, glucosinolate, valine, isoleucine, leucine, and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways. The data suggested that the differential metabolites in Lycium barbarum L. and Lycium barbarum L. var. auranticarpum K.F.Ching were predominantly flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolic acids, amino acids, and their derivatives, with a general trend of upregulation. These metabolites might be linked to the growth, development, disease resistance, and nutritional value of Lycium barbarum L. var. auranticarpum K.F.Ching, potentially through their involvement in tryptophan metabolism and biosynthesis pathways for valine, leucine, isoleucine, and flavonoids. The objective of this study was to contribute to the existing knowledge base on the nutritional value of these two wolfberry species and to offer a theoretical foundation for the refinement of wolfberry-related products through extensive metabolomics profiling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carotenoids are a class of natural pigments with an isoprene structure. Due to its highly unsaturated structure, carotenoids are unstable in vitro and prone to isomerisation and degradation during processing and storage affected by factors such as light, heat, and oxygen. Lycium barbarum L. is rich in carotenoids, mainly zeaxanthin ester, which differs from carotenoids found in common fruits and vegetables. Therefore, it is of great significance to understand the stability of carotenoids of Lycium barbarum L. to promote the comprehensive utilization of colored food matrix. This paper briefly reviews the carotenoids compositions of Lycium barbarum L., focusing on the effects of processing methods (drying, mechanical crushing, fermentation, etc.), food antioxidants (vitamin C, citric acid, vitamin E) and environmental factors (light, storage temperature, oxygen, etc.) on the stability of Lycium barbarum L. carotenoids. The degradation pathways and products of carotenoids during processing and storage in Lycium barbarum L. are summarized. Carotenoids are enriched by preparation of liposomes, microcapsules and nano-emulsion, and the addition of food antioxidants or edible oils can delay the oxidation of pigments and improve the stability of carotenoids in Lycium barbarum L., to provide references for the efficient utilization of Lycium barbarum L. carotenoids and the development of special medical foods and health products.

In the pursuit of a comprehensive understanding of differential metabolites and metabolic pathways between red wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.) and yellow wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L. var. auranticarpum K.F.Ching), an analytical approach integrating ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem high-resolution mass spectrometry was employed, alongside a broadly targeted metabolomics strategy. Through multivariate statistical methods such as principal component analysis, orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis, and cluster analysis, under the conditions of fold change ≥2 or ≤0.5, variable importance projection value ≥1, and P

Phenolic compounds are a class of important plant secondary metabolites, which are regarded as prime constituents of nutraceuticals and functional foods due to their various bioactivities. Lycium barbarum L., an excellent tonic used for both medicinal and dietary purposes, is rich in phenolic compounds and their derivatives. This article aims to review recent progress in research on phenolic compounds and their derivatives in L. barbarum L. with respect to their extraction, separation, identification, and analysis methods as well as their bioactivities. Furthermore, it summarizes the current knowledge on the contribution of phenolic substances to the flavor and taste of L. barbarum L. along with their synthesis and metabolism and reviews recent progress in their deep processing and application. Finally, possible solutions to the problems existing in the research and development of phenolic compounds from L. barbarum L. and an outlook on future prospects are proposed. It is our expectation that this review will provide a reference for further exploration of phenolic compounds and derivatives in L. barbarum L., and offer theoretical guidance for the development and utilization of this specialty resource.

This study was carried out in order to investigate the effects of goji berries fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum NXU0011 on serum metabolites in mice with ulcerative colitis (UC). A mouse model of UC was induced by oral administration of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in drinking water. Four groups of mice were set up: DSS-induced model, control (Con), medication with mesalazine (MS), and intervention with lyophilized powder of L. plantarum NXU0011-fermented L. barbarum L. (LP + Ly). Non-targeted metabolomics was used to analyze differential serum metabolites among the four groups. In the positive ion mode, a total of 381 differential metabolites were identified, including 56 differential metabolites between the MS and DSS groups and 87 differential metabolites between the LP + Ly and DSS groups. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis of the significantly differential metabolites between the Con, LP + Ly and DSS groups revealed two metabolic pathways with the higher enrichment rates, arginine biosynthesis and vitamin digestion and absorption. This study provides a reference for the application of Lactobacillus-fermented goji berries to ameliorate UC.

Sustainable cultivation of Lycium barbarum L. (L. barbarum) in northwest China faces challenges due to soil sickness. While previous studies have explored variations in L. barbarum's root-associated microbiota, the impact of soil properties on its growth performance and plant–soil feedback remains unclear. This study investigated changes in soil properties across topsoil (0–20 cm) and subsoil (20–40 cm) in primary L. barbarum cultivation regions of northwest China, evaluating seedling growth and plant–soil feedback through pot experiments. Results revealed significantly higher fresh shoot weights in seedlings cultivated in topsoil compared to subsoil, with plant–soil feedback showing an inverse trend. Redundancy analysis indicated positive correlations between both fresh weight and plant–soil feedback with electrical conductivity and dissolved nitrogen content, while negative correlations were observed with soil pH at both depths. Notably, dissolved organic carbon content negatively correlated with fresh weight and plant–soil feedback in topsoil, suggesting a potential relationship between continuous single-species plant litter input and soil sickness under monocropping conditions. These findings indicate that long-term input of a single plant litter type, rather than chemical fertilization, may primarily contribute to L. barbarum soil sickness in northwest China, providing valuable insights for developing sustainable cultivation practices for growing L. barbarum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant of Lycium barbarum L., in Chinese name of "Goqi" tree, produce very important traditional Chinese medicine of Goqi berries for clinical application over 2000 years in China. In the early stage, people conducted extensive research on the bioactive components, planting methods, and deep processing of L. barbarum L., yet paid scant attention to the rhizosphere microorganisms surrounding their roots. In this context, the rhizosphere soil of L. barbarum L., collected in Ningxia province of China, was studied to investigate the microbial diversity by performing 16S rRNA/ITS sequencing, which led to identify 29 strains including 9 bacteria and 20 fungi. On the bases of the GNPS analysis of HPLC-q-ToF MS data of the fermentation broth, rich secondary metabolites were identified from twenty microorganisms. The molecular network clustering analysis suggests that the fermentation broth of bacteria may contain 607 compounds and that of fungi may contain 1359 compounds, involving multiple types. Antibacterial activity evaluation results revealed that rhizosphere microorganisms had inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. This article lays a scientific foundation for the utilization of soil biological resources in L. barbarum L. cultivation and paves the way for the discovery of novel antibacterial active substances with unique structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional shrub fruits harvesting method is manual picking, while the efficiency is low, which seriously restricts the development of Lycium barbarum L. industry. In order to mechanize the harvesting process of Lycium barbarum L. and improve the correct picking rate while reducing the damage rate of Lycium barbarum L. harvesting, it is very important to analyze the kinematic model of the fruit-bearing branch during vibration harvesting. Through the measurement and analysis of the natural characteristics and physical parameters of the branches, a simplified model of Lycium barbarum L. shrub fruit-bearing branch was built by Solidworks 2023 software, and the appropriate material properties were selected. Through modal analysis and harmonious response analysis, the response characteristics data of fruit-bearing branches of Lycium barbarum L. shrub were obtained. In Qinghai Nuomuhong Farm, the field vibration harvesting kinematic model feature analysis test was carried out, and the acceleration data of the vibration harvesting process were collected by using the acceleration sensor, and through the analysis of the frequency spectrum characteristics of the data, it was concluded that when the excitation frequency was maintained between 8 and 14 Hz, the Lycium barbarum L. fell off well and the picking rate can reach 97.56%, the efficiency can reach 6.88 pieces of fruit per second, and the branch damage was acceptable, which theoretically met the needs of harvesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Given the limited specificity and accuracy observed in the current official colorimetric quantification of polysaccharide in Lycium barbarum, our study aims to establish a novel, specific, accurate, and economic pre‐column derivatization ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) method for determining the monosaccharide and polysaccharide content in L. barbarum. The optimization of extraction, hydrolysis, and derivatization (using 1‐phenyl‐3‐methyl‐5‐pyrazolone) processes for polysaccharide from L. barbarum was conducted initially, followed by separation of nine monosaccharides within 20 min using UHPLC with a C18 column. Subsequently, a novel method known as quantitative analysis of multiple components by single marker was developed, utilizing either additive 2‐deoxy‐D‐ribose or any monosaccharide present in the sample as a single reference standard to simultaneously detect the contents of polysaccharide and nine monosaccharides in L. barbarum. To validate the accuracy of the established method, the quantitative results of our approach were compared to both external and internal standard method methods. The minimal relative errors in the quantitative determination of monosaccharides among the three methods confirmed the dependability of the method. By analyzing 20 batches of L. barbarum samples, D‐galacturonic acid exhibited the highest content and the polysaccharide levels ranged from 3.02 to 13.04 mg/g. All data implied the specificity and accuracy of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Cutin is the main component of the fruit cuticle framework and plays a role in resisting biological stress. However, little is known about the cutin composition and antifungal properties of goji berry (Lycium barbarum L.). In the current study, paraffin sections and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) techniques were used to identify differences in cuticle structure and chemical composition of Ningqi-1 and Ningqi-5 goji berries at different developmental stages. Meanwhile, cutin extracts from goji berries at four developmental stages were evaluated for their effects on spore germination, germ tube elongation, and mycelial growth of A. alternata. Twenty-six cutin compounds were identified in Ningqi-1 and Ningqi-5. Fatty acids, alkanes, aromatic acids, and small molecule acids were the main components of goji berry cutin, which are related to the formation of cutin structures. Spore germination and germ tube elongation in A. alternata were significantly inhibited by treatment with cutin extracts from goji berries at different developmental stages. Moreover, the cutin monomer content in goji berries may be closely related to antifungal properties. This study provides a research basis for further investigation of the accumulation mechanism of natural antifungal substances during the growth and development of goji berries.

Lycium barbarum L., an important functional food in China, has antioxidant and antiaging activity. However, the exact antioxidant activity mechanism of Lycium barbarum extracts (LBE) is not well understood. Therefore, a carbendazim (CBZ)-induced PC12 cell injury model was constructed and vitrificated to study the antioxidant activity of fresh LBE on the basis of extraction parameter optimization via the full factorial design of experiments (DOE) method. The results showed that the pretreatment of PC12 cells with LBE could reduce the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level by 14.6% and inhibited the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) decline by 12.0%. Furthermore, the integrated analysis revealed that LBE played an antioxidant role by activating oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and restoring MMP, maintaining the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle stability, and regulating the GSH metabolic pathway. The results of the present study provide new ideas for the understanding of the antioxidant function of LBE from a global perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Food Safety & Quality is the property of Journal of Food Safety & Quality Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Key message: Overexpressing the copper transporter LbCOPT1 leads to a notable increase in the abundance of mycorrhizal arbuscules that suggests the potential application of LbCOPT1 in breeding programs aimed at enhancing symbiotic nutrient uptake in Lycium barbarum L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary method for harvesting Lycium barbarum L. (L. barbarum) is manual labor, making it one of the most labor-intensive fruit crops in the Northwest region of China. Due to the decrease of labor supply and the increase of labor cost, the cost of harvesting has become a major hindrance to the development of the L. barbarum industry. Therefore, it is important to achieving mechanized harvesting of L. barbarum. In this study, a vibration harvesting machine was designed. Plackett-Burman experiment was conducted to assess the correlation between the picking rate of ripe fruit and various parameters. It was found that the significant factors were vibration amplitude, vibration frequency, and spacing of the vibrating rods. Based on the response surface methodology (RSM), parameter experiment was conducted to analyze the impact of these factors on picking rate of ripe fruit, picking rate of unripe fruit, and damage rate of ripe fruit. The optimal harvesting parameters were determined to be: vibration amplitude of 44 mm, spacing of the vibrating rods of 24 mm, and vibration frequency of 9Hz. The verification experiment showed that the picking rate of ripe fruit was 86.44%, the picking rate of unripe fruit was 6.81%, and the damage rate of ripe fruit was 5.54%. This study provides a design basis for realizing mechanized harvesting.

Based on the differences and correlations of quality and mineral elements content in dried fruit of Lycium barbarum L., a comprehensive evaluation system was established to screen the excellent germplasms, also to provide theoretical basis for high quality breeding of Lycium barbarum L.. The 16 qualities and mineral elements content of dried fruit in 60 germplasms of Lycium barbarum L. were measured. The core evaluation indexes were screened by coefficient of variation, correlation analysis and factor analysis, and the comprehensive evaluation system of dried fruit quality of Lycium barbarum L. was constructed by analytic hierarchy process (AHP), grey correlation analysis (GCA) and cluster analysis (CA). The results showed that there were significant differences in nutritional components, constant element and trace element contents among different germplasms. There were significant positive correlations between total sugar content, betaine content and Zn content, polysaccharide content and Fe content, carotenoids content and Mg, Se content, flavonoids content and B, Zn, Ca content, fat content and Se, Mg content (P

Lycium barbarum L. (goji), as an economic crop, has a high added value. However, the tender and fragile fruits are easily damaged during harvesting and transportation, leading to fruit bruising, which can cause rotting or black–brown spots after drying, seriously affecting the quality and price. In this study, two varieties of goji were used to determine and evaluate fruit bruising using a pendulum impact test, and the impact process was recorded using a high-speed camera and impact force sensor. This study discussed the energy changes during the impact process of fruits and conducted a correlation analysis of the impact energy, absorbed energy, restitution coefficient, impact force, and other indicators, analyzing the changes in each indicator with the falling height. The results showed that 0.2 m could be considered a critical height for damaging the fruit of goji. Furthermore, this study calculated the bruise susceptibility of the different varieties at different heights, which can be used for predicting bruising during the harvesting and collection of goji berries and ultimately for estimating the damage caused by mechanical harvesting.

Copyright of Science & Technology of Food Industry is the property of Science & Technology of Food Industry Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Lycium barbarum L. has a high concentration of active ingredients and is well known in traditional Chinese herbal medicine for its therapeutic properties. However, there are many Lycium barbarum cultivars, and the content of active components varies, resulting in inconsistent quality between Lycium barbarum cultivars. At present, few research has been conducted to reveal the difference in active ingredient content among different cultivars of Lycium barbarum at the molecular level. Therefore, the transcriptome of 'Ningqi No.1' and 'Qixin No.1' during the three development stages (G, T, and M) was constructed in this study. A total of 797,570,278 clean reads were obtained. Between the two types of wolfberries, a total of 469, 2394, and 1531 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained in the ‘G1 vs. G10,’ ‘T1 vs. T10,’ and ‘M1 vs. M10,’ respectively, and were annotated with Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) orthology identifiers. Using these transcriptome data, most DEGs related to the metabolism of the active ingredients in 'Ningqi No.1' and 'Qixin No.1' were identified. Moreover, a widely targeted metabolome analysis of the metabolites of 'Ningqi 1' and 'Qixin 1' fruits at the maturity stage revealed 1,135 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) in ‘M1 vs. M10,’ and many DEMs were associated with active ingredients such as flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and so on. We further quantified the flavonoid, lignin, and carotenoid contents of the two Lycium barbarum cultivars during the three developmental stages. The present outcome provided molecular insight into the dynamics of multiple active ingredients biosynthesis and accumulation across different cultivars of Lycium barbarum, which would provide the basic data for the formation of Lycium barbarum fruit quality and the breeding of outstanding strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract [Objective] Callose is a beta-1, 3-bonded glucan that forms a wall structure, which occurs only in certain tissues. When degrading prematurely or delayed, it may lead to pollen abortion. Examining the dynamics of callose deposition is important for understanding the mechanism of male sterility and its application. [Methods] The fertile line ‘Ningqi No.1’ and sterile line ‘Ningqi No.5’ of Lycium barbarum L. were studied using semi-thin section technique, and callose was labeled with aniline blue and periodic acid- Schiff stain (PAS). The dynamic characteristics of callose in fertile and sterile anthers of L. barbarum at different developmental stages were compared under optical microscope, and the influence of callose on anther abortion of sterile line was analyzed. [Results] In the microspore mother stage, the extracellular deposits of fertile and sterile anthers formed an uneven thick callose wall, and the fluorescence reaction showed that the callose wall gradually was thickened after meiosis forming a tetrad. With the further development of anthers, the extracellular callose wall in fertile anthers gradually disintegrated and disappeared, releasing 4 microspores. However, in sterile anthers, the callose wall outside the tetrad was thickened continuously, and there was no sign of degradation. Until flowering, the small spores in the anther chamber still existed in the state of tetrad, and the callose wall was still wrapped around the deformed and disintegrated tetrad. [Conclusion] Abnormal callose degradation was the structural cause of pollen abortion in Ningxia wolfberry. This study further analyzed the reason why the callose wall of the sterile line tetrad did not degrade, and provides a theoretical basis for analyzing the male sterility mechanism of L. barbarum L..

The traditional shrub fruits harvesting method is manual picking, while the efficiency is low, which seriously restricts the development of Lycium barbarum L. industry. In order to mechanize the harvesting process of Lycium barbarum L. and improve the correct picking rate while reducing the damage rate of Lycium barbarum L. harvesting, it is very important to analyze the kinematic model of the fruit-bearing branch during vibration harvesting. Through the measurement and analysis of the natural characteristics and physical parameters of the branches, a simplified model of Lycium barbarum L. shrub fruit-bearing branch was built by Solidworks 2023 software, and the appropriate material properties were selected. Through modal analysis and harmonious response analysis, the response characteristics data of fruit-bearing branches of Lycium barbarum L. shrub were obtained. In Qinghai Nuomuhong Farm, the field vibration harvesting kinematic model feature analysis test was carried out, and the acceleration data of the vibration harvesting process were collected by using the acceleration sensor, and through the analysis of the frequency spectrum characteristics of the data, it was concluded that when the excitation frequency was maintained between 8 and 14 Hz, the Lycium barbarum L. fell off well and the picking rate can reach 97.56%, the efficiency can reach 6.88 pieces of fruit per second, and the branch damage was acceptable, which theoretically met the needs of harvesting.

Abstract Background Wolfberry is rich in carotenoids, flavonoids, vitamins, alkaloids, betaines and other bioactive ingredients. For over 2,000 years, wolfberry has been used in China as a medicinal and edible plant resource. Nevertheless, the content of bioactive ingredients varies by cultivars, resulting in uneven quality across wolfberry cultivars and species. To date, research has revealed little about the underlying molecular mechanism of the metabolism of flavonoids, carotenoids, and other bioactive ingredients in wolfberry. Results In this context, the transcriptomes of the Lycium barbarum L. cultivar ‘Ningqi No. 1’ and Lycium chinense Miller were compared during the fruit maturity stage using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 sequencing platform, and subsequently, the changes of the gene expression profiles in two types of wolfberries were analysed. In total, 256,228,924 clean reads were obtained, and 8817 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, then assembled by Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) similarity searches and annotated using Gene Ontology (GO), Clusters of Orthologous Groups of proteins (KOG), and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). By combining these transcriptome data with data from the PubMed database, 36 DEGs related to the metabolism of bioactive ingredients and implicated in the metabolic pathway of carotenoids, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, vitamins, etc., were identified. In addition, among the 9 differentially expressed transcription factors, LbAPL, LbPHL11 and LbKAN4 have raised concerns. The protein physicochemical properties, structure prediction and phylogenetic analysis indicated that LbAPL and LbPHL11 may be good candidate genes involved in regulating the flavonoid metabolism pathway in wolfberry. Conclusions This study provides preliminary evidence for the differences in bioactive ingredient content at the transcription level among different wolfberry species, as well as a research and theoretical basis for the screening, cloning and functional analysis of key genes involved in the metabolism of bioactive ingredients in wolfberry.

In order to expand the application of melatonin in gel food, convenient gummies loaded with melatonin and Lycium barbarum L. were developed in this study. The comprehensive effects of gelatin dose, Lycium barbarum L. powder level and drying time on the properties of melatonin gummies were investigated by color difference analysis, texture analysis, low field NMR analysis and sensory evaluation. The results showed that the gummies containing with 0.4% Lycium barbarum L. powder, 18% gelatin, 5% carrageenan, 17.5% sorbitol, 17.5% erythritol and drying for 18 h were elastic and palatable with smooth surface. The gummies had moisture content less than 20% and melatonin retention rate of 92.0%~97.7%, and high sensory evaluation with potential practical application.

Postharvest decay of goji berries, mainly caused by Alternaria alternata, results in significant economic losses. To investigate the effects of melatonin (MLT) on resistance to Alternaria rot in goji berries, the fruits were immersed in the MLT solutions with varying concentrations (0, 25, 50, and 75 μmol L−1) and then inoculated with A. alternata. The results showed that the fruits treated with 50 μmol L−1 MLT exhibited the lowest disease incidence and least lesion diameter. Meanwhile, endogenous MLT in the fruits treated with 50 μmol L−1 MLT showed higher levels than in the control fruits during storage at 4 ± 0.5 °C. Further, the enzymatic activities and expressions of genes encoding peroxidase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, cinnamate 4-hydroxylase, 4-coumarate-CoA ligase, chalcone synthase, chalcone isomerase, and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase were induced in the treated fruit during storage. UPLC-ESI-MS/MS revealed that secondary metabolites in the fruits on day 0, in order of highest to lowest levels, were rutin, p-coumaric acid, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, naringenin, quercetin, kaempferol, and protocatechuic acid. MLT-treated fruits exhibited higher levels of secondary metabolites than the control. In conclusion, MLT treatment contributed to controlling the postharvest decay of goji fruit during storage by boosting endogenous MLT levels, thus activating the antioxidant system and secondary metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lycium barbarum L., an important functional food in China, has antioxidant and antiaging activity. However, the exact antioxidant activity mechanism of Lycium barbarum extracts (LBE) is not well understood. Therefore, a carbendazim (CBZ)-induced PC12 cell injury model was constructed and vitrificated to study the antioxidant activity of fresh LBE on the basis of extraction parameter optimization via the full factorial design of experiments (DOE) method. The results showed that the pretreatment of PC12 cells with LBE could reduce the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level by 14.6% and inhibited the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) decline by 12.0%. Furthermore, the integrated analysis revealed that LBE played an antioxidant role by activating oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and restoring MMP, maintaining the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle stability, and regulating the GSH metabolic pathway. The results of the present study provide new ideas for the understanding of the antioxidant function of LBE from a global perspective.

Background: Wolfberry is rich in carotenoids, flavonoids, vitamins, alkaloids, betaines and other bioactive ingredients. For over 2,000 years, wolfberry has been used in China as a medicinal and edible plant resource. Nevertheless, the content of bioactive ingredients varies by cultivars, resulting in uneven quality across wolfberry cultivars and species. To date, research has revealed little about the underlying molecular mechanism of the metabolism of flavonoids, carotenoids, and other bioactive ingredients in wolfberry. Results: In this context, the transcriptomes of the Lycium barbarum L. cultivar 'Ningqi No. 1' and Lycium chinense Miller were compared during the fruit maturity stage using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 sequencing platform, and subsequently, the changes of the gene expression profiles in two types of wolfberries were analysed. In total, 256,228,924 clean reads were obtained, and 8817 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, then assembled by Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) similarity searches and annotated using Gene Ontology (GO), Clusters of Orthologous Groups of proteins (KOG), and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). By combining these transcriptome data with data from the PubMed database, 36 DEGs related to the metabolism of bioactive ingredients and implicated in the metabolic pathway of carotenoids, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, vitamins, etc., were identified. In addition, among the 9 differentially expressed transcription factors, LbAPL, LbPHL11 and LbKAN4 have raised concerns. The protein physicochemical properties, structure prediction and phylogenetic analysis indicated that LbAPL and LbPHL11 may be good candidate genes involved in regulating the flavonoid metabolism pathway in wolfberry. Conclusions: This study provides preliminary evidence for the differences in bioactive ingredient content at the transcription level among different wolfberry species, as well as a research and theoretical basis for the screening, cloning and functional analysis of key genes involved in the metabolism of bioactive ingredients in wolfberry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As research into the relationship between the gut microbiome and health continues to evolve, probiotics are garnering increasing interest among consumers. Fermentation is recognized as an efficacious biotechnology for augmenting the nutritional and functional attributes of foods. In this study, the ameliorative effects of Lycium barbarum L. lyophilized powder fermented with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum NXU0011 (LP+Ly) on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice were investigated employing immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, macrogenomics, and metabolomics. The results revealed that LP+Ly intervention significantly ameliorated histopathological inflammation in the ulcerated colon, diminished the expression of inflammatory markers such as IL-6, P-STAT3, and miR-214, and enhanced the diversity of intestinal flora in the mouse model group. Moreover, there was an increase in the abundance of beneficial bacteria, including Lactobacillus, Prevotella, and Akkermansia. Metabolomic analysis indicated that 15 metabolites, including citrulline, D-xylose, and α-ketoisovaleric acid, exhibited significant variations following the LP+Ly intervention. The metabolic pathways that displayed substantial differences included tryptophan biosynthesis, arginine biosynthesis, and amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism. LP+Ly effectively improved the inflammatory state within the intestines by modulating arginine biosynthesis, thus alleviating the impact of UC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Carotenoids in goji (Lycium barbarum L.) have excellent health benefits, but the underlying mechanism of carotenoid synthesis and color formation in goji fruit ripening is still unclear. The present study uses transcriptomics and metabolomics to investigate carotenoid biosynthesis and color formation differences in N1 (red fruit) and N1Y (yellow fruit) at three stages of ripening. Twenty-seven carotenoids were identified in N1 and N1Y fruits during the M1, M2, and M3 periods, with the M2 and M3 periods being critical for the difference in carotenoid and color between N1 and N1Y fruit. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), gene trend analysis, and correlation analysis suggest that PSY1 and ZDS16 may be important players in the synthesis of carotenoids during goji fruit ripening. Meanwhile, 63 transcription factors (TFs) were identified related to goji fruit carotenoid biosynthesis. Among them, four TFs (CMB1-1, WRKY22-1, WRKY22-3, and RAP2-13-like) may have potential regulatory relationships with PSY1 and ZDS16. This work sheds light on the molecular network of carotenoid synthesis and explains the differences in carotenoid accumulation in different colored goji fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the effects of iron（Fe）and cadmium（Cd）stress on the expression patterns of genes of LbFRO（ferric reduction oxidase）, LbZIP（zinc-regulated transporters and iron-regulated transporter-like protein）and LbNRAMP（natural resistanceassociated macrophage protein）in Lycium barbarum L. were investigated for providing theoretical basis and technical support in preventing and controlling yellow leaf disease of wolfberry in Ningxia, cultivation of high-efficiency Fe-utilizing wolfberry varieties and low-cadmium accumulation varieties. The seedlings of L. barbarum L. No. 1 were used as experimental materials, and the genes related to iron（Fe）and cadmium（Cd）absorption and transport were isolated by transcriptome sequencing technology; the expression patterns of the target genes under Fe and Cd stress were verified by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR; the full-length sequences of the target genes were cloned by conventional PCR method; and the yeast expression vector of those genes were constructed and transformed into Fe/Cd sensitive yeast strain ΔCCC1/YK44 for functional verification. The results showed that LbFRO, LbIRT1, LbIRT2 and LbNRAMP3 were significantly up-regulated under Fe and Cd stress, phylogenetic tree analysis showed that those genes of L. barbarum L. were closely related to rice and Arabidopsis thaliana, the functions of transgenic yeast further verified that LbFRO, LbIRT2 and LbNRAMP3 genes enhanced the sensitivity of yeast to iron（Fe）and cadmium（Cd）, indicating that these genes may be involved in the absorption and transport of Fe and Cd in L. barbarum L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oligosaccharides are important functional active components of Lycium barbarum L. (LBL, “Goji”) fruits, but their metabolic mechanisms are not yet clear. In this study, we firstly investigated the changes in the content of oligosaccharides in LBL at different stages (S1–S5), and found that it mainly accumulated at S3 and S4. Secondly, the structural characteristics of LBL oligosaccharide (LBO) were studied by GC-MS and FT-IR. Thirdly, using iTRAQ proteomics analysis, we identified 135 differentially expressed proteins associated with oligosaccharide metabolism, which is mainly accomplished through the collaboration of a range of key enzymes. At S1 and S2, oligosaccharide synthesis was achieved mainly through photosynthesis, and changes in anabolism were mainly associated with the expression of sucrose synthase, sucrose phosphate synthase and hexokinase. Oligosaccharide accumulation was achieved through starch and polysaccharide metabolism and cellulose catabolism at S3 and S4, where the enzymes associated with changes in oligosaccharide anabolism included glycosylase, β-fructosidase and glucan endonuclease. This report will provide a theoretical basis for further elucidating the mechanisms of oligosaccharide anabolism during the growth and development of LBL.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the therapeutic effects of wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.) against breast cancer and the potential mechanisms using network pharmacology. Methods: The active ingredients and corresponding targets of wolfberry were screened by TCMSP database, and the potential targets of Wolfberry against breast cancer were obtained by intersecting them with the disease targets obtained from GeneCards database and OMIM database；The visualized network of drug-active component-disease-related target was constructed；Protein-protein interaction (PPI) relationships were demonstrated for the wolfberry-breast cancer intersection targets using the String database, and the core target is obtained by analyzing it. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional enrichment analysis were performed on crossover targets via the DAVID online platform and the Bioinformatics online platform. Results: In this study, we screened the main active ingredients of Wolfberry against breast cancer as quercetin, β-sitosterol, Stigmasterol by network pharmacological methods. The PPI network showed that the core targets are ESR1, MYC, HIF1A, EGFR, VEGFA, CCND1etc. GO enrichment analysis showed that the main biological processes of wolfberry against breast cancer include response to steroid hormones, response to ketone, cellular response to chemical stress, epithelial cell proliferation. The results of KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the anti-breast cancer targets of wolfberry were mainly enriched in cancer pathways, estrogen signaling pathway, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, P53 signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway. Conclusion: Through a network pharmacology approach, we predicted wolfberry can treat breast cancer mainly by acting on ESR1, MYC, HIF1A and other key targets, regulating cancer pathway, estrogen signaling pathway and so on.

Copyright of Journal of Food Safety & Quality is the property of Journal of Food Safety & Quality Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Lycium barbarum L. and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Gouqi and Danshen, LS) have led to their inclusion in the pharmacopoeia and healthcare systems of numerous countries globally. Traditional herbs known as LS are used in China to treat retinitis pigmentosa (RP). However, the mechanism is not clear. This study is to investigate the mechanism by which LS improves RP using rd10 mice as a model. LS extract was used to treat the rd10 mice for four weeks. Fundus photographs, optical coherence tomography, electroretinography, histopathological examination, TUNEL apoptosis assay, digital PCR analysis, western blotting, and immunofluorescence double staining were performed. The outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness of the retina was significantly increased by the LS extract, improving atrophy, and both the ONL and the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) layer were visible. Following treatment with LS extract, there was a notable increase in the magnitudes of ERG a- and b-waves in the retina, along with a significant reduction in the quantity of TUNEL-positive cells. Additionally, LS extract significantly reduced the levels of ER stress-related factors in rd10 mice. The results of immunofluorescence double staining further confirm that LS extract inhibits the GRP78/PERK/ATF4/CHOP pathway. In this study, the protective effects of LS extract on the retina were uncovered, suggesting that its mechanism could involve decreasing retinal cell apoptosis through the inhibition of the ER stress pathway. [Display omitted] • Lycium barbarum L. and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge extract improve retinal morphology and function. • Regulation of the endoplasmic reticulum stress inhibit the cell apoptosis in the retina. • Lycium barbarum L. and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge extract against endoplasmic reticulum stress in rd10 mice was first explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternaria alternata , a common fungal pathogen causes black mold in postharvest goji fruit. To explore the in vitro and in vivo impacts of linalool on the fungal infection, we treated A. alternata and infected goji fruit with varying linalool concentrations (0, 0.15, 0.45, and 1.35 mL L−1). Linalool repressed hypha growth, spore yield and germination, and germ tube length of A. alternata. Furthermore, we observed abnormal spore and mycelium morphology in the treated samples using optical, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy. Linalool reduced lesion diameter and disease incidence in goji fruit. Moreover, transcriptomic analysis of pathogen revealed that linalool inhibited nitrogen metabolism, altered chitin and β -1,3-glucan metabolisms, downregulated the key gene expression related to ergosterol synthesis and sulfur and glutathione metabolisms, regulated the enzymatic antioxidant system, and impacted the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids. Furthermore, linalool damaged the fungal cell wall integrity by inducing alkaline phosphatase and chitinase activities and β -1,3-glucan content and repressing β -1,3-glucanase and chitin synthase activities and chitin levels. Linalool elevated superoxide dismutase and catalase activities and declined peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities and glutathione content in A. alternata , leading to increased H 2 O 2 levels and ROS stress. Our data exhibited the promising antifungal effects of linalool with a future application in management of the postharvest rot of goji fruit. [Display omitted] • Linalool exhibited antifungal effects against Alternaria alternata. • Linalool downregulated the gene expression involved with nitrogen metabolism and ergosterol synthesis. • Linalool altered the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids. • Linalool inhibited glucan hydrolyzation and promoted chitin degradation to impair cell wall. • Linalool inhibited sulfur and glutathione metabolisms, induced H 2 O 2 synthesis and ROS stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the pilot production process for supercritical CO2 extraction of fat-soluble substances from Lycium barbarum L., and for obtaining the preparation process of zeaxanthin dipalmitate monomer. The effect of pressure, temperature, time and co-solvent on the extraction yield of Lycium barbarum L. fat-soluble substances was studied, the orthogonal test was then used to optimize the extraction rate based on single factor experiment. The carotenoids and fatty acids in the fat-soluble substance of Lycium barbarum L. were analyzed by colorimetry, HPLC and GC-MS, and the zeaxanthin dipalmitate monomer was prepared by high performance preparative liquid chromatography. The results showed that the best pilot production process was that 15% ethanol was added, the extract temperature reached 50 ℃ and pressure reached 30 MPa, and extract for 1.5 h, when the yield and quality of fat-soluble substances were both considered. Under this process, the extraction rate of fat-soluble substances, unsaturated fatty acids and their proportion in total fatty acids, and the content of total carotenoids were relatively higher. While the extraction rate of fat-soluble substances was 8.55%, the content of unsaturated fatty acids was 80.958%, which accounts for 87.94% of the total fatty acid content, the content of total carotenoid and zeaxanthin dipalmitate was 37.64 mg·g−1 and 29.54 mg·g−1, respectively. The monomer of zeaxanthin dipalmitate with purity greater than 99% was prepared by pre-HPLC. In this study, the pilot-scale extraction process for supercritical CO2 extract of fat-soluble substance and the preparation conditions of the zeaxanthin dipalmitate monomer from Lycium barbarum L. were obtained, which provided a basis for the research, development and utilization of the fat-soluble substances of Lycium barbarum L..

Lycium barbarum L. (L. barbarum) is renowned worldwide for its nutritional and medicinal benefits. Rapid and accurate identification of L. barbarum 's geographic origin is essential because its nutritional content, medicinal efficacy, and market price significantly vary by region. This study proposes an innovative method combining hyperspectral imaging (HSI), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and an improved ResNet-34 deep learning model to accurately identify the geographical origin and geographical indication (GI) markers of L. barbarum. The deep learning model achieved a 95.63% accuracy, surpassed traditional methods by 6.26% and reduced runtime by 29.9% through SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP)-based feature selection. Pearson correlation analysis between GI markers and HSI characteristic wavelengths enhanced the interpretability of HSI data and further reduced runtime by 33.99%. This work lays the foundation for portable multispectral devices, offering a rapid, accurate, and cost-effective solution for quality assurance and market regulation of L. barbarum products. [Display omitted] • Innovative method combines HSI, NMR, and ResNet-34 for L. barbarum origin identification. • Deep learning model achieves 95.63% accuracy, 6.26% higher than traditional methods. • SHAP-based feature selection reduces computation time by 29.9%. • Pearson analysis optimizes runtime by 33.99%, reveals spectral compositional relationship. • Foundation for portable multispectral devices for rapid and accurate L. barbarum quality assurance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lycium barbarum L., goji berry, is a precious traditional Chinese medicine and it is homology of medicine and food. Its growth is heavily dependent on nitrogen. The use of chemical fertilizers has significantly promoted the yield of goji berry and the development of the L. barbarum L. industry. However, crop plants are inefficient in the acquisition and utilization of applied nitrogen, it often leads to excessive application of nitrogen fertilizers by producers, which cause negatively impact to the environment ultimately. The exploration of an interaction model which deals with crops, chemical fertilizers, and rhizosphere microbes to improve nitrogen use efficiency, is, therefore, an important research objective to achieve sustainable development of agriculture greatly. In our study, we explored the effects of nitrogen input on soil microbial community structure, soil nitrogen cycling, and the contents of nutrients in L. barbarum fruits. The structure and composition of the bacterial community in the rhizosphere soil of L. barbarum were significantly different under different nitrogen supply conditions, and high nitrogen addition inhibited the diversity and stability of bacterial communities. Low nitrogen input stimulated the relative abundance of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), such as Nitrosospira, catalyzing the first step of the ammonia oxidation process. The results of the GLMM model showed that the level of nitrogen fertilizer (urea) input, the relative abundance of AOB, the relative abundance of Bradyrhizobium, and their combinations had significant effects on the soil nitrogen cycling and contents of nutrients in L. barbarum fruits. Therefore, we believe that moderately reducing the use of urea and other nitrogen fertilizers is more conducive to improving soil nitrogen use efficiency and Goji berry fruit quality by increasing the nitrogen cycling potential of soil microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Food Safety & Quality is the property of Journal of Food Safety & Quality Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the present study, the effects of a purified fraction of polysaccharides from the fruits of Lycium barbarum L. (LBPs), named LBPs-4, on the dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice were evaluated. The results showed that LBPs-4 decreased disease activity index score, prevented colon shortening and reduced plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and prostaglandin E2) in mice with colitis. LBPs-4 could increase the relative abundances of Akkermansia and Bifidobacterium in gut microbiota, and it also mitigated the intestinal barrier damage by upregulating the level of tight junction protein ZO-1 and the number of goblet cells in colon. Moreover, the results of in vitro culture indicated that the growth of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis CCX 19042 was promoted by LBPs-4, whereas the culture media of LBPs-4 by Bacteroides ovatus with or without addition of mucin could enhance the growth of Akkermansia muciniphila. Collectively, these results suggested that LBPs-4 should be potential prebiotics for the treatment of colitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt stress directly affects the growth of plants. The limitation of leaf grow is among the earliest visible effects of salt stress. However, the regulation mechanism of salt treatments on leaf shape has not been fully elucidated. We measured the morphological traits and anatomical structure. In combination with transcriptome analysis, we analyzed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and verified the RNA-seq data by qRT-PCR. Finally, we analyzed correlation between leaf microstructure parameters and expansin genes. We show that the leaf thickness, the width, and the leaf length significantly increased at elevated salt concentrations after salt stress for 7 days. Low salt mainly promoted the increase in leaves length and width, but high salt concentration accelerated the leaf thickness. The anatomical structure results indicated that palisade mesophyll tissues contribute more to leaf thickness than spongy mesophyll tissues, which possibly contributed to the increase in leaf expansion and thickness. Moreover, a total of 3,572 DEGs were identified by RNA-seq. Notably, six of the DEGs among 92 identified genes concentrated on cell wall synthesis or modification were involved in cell wall loosening proteins. More importantly, we demonstrated that there was a strong positive correlation between the upregulated EXLA2 gene and the thickness of the palisade tissue in L. barbarum leaves. These results suggested that salt stress possibly induced the expression of EXLA2 gene, which in turn increased the thickness of L. barbarum leaves by promoting the longitudinal expansion of cells of the palisade tissue. This study lays a solid knowledge for revealing the underlying molecular mechanisms of leaf thickening in L. barbarum in response to salt stresses.

As research into the relationship between the gut microbiome and health continues to evolve, probiotics are garnering increasing interest among consumers. Fermentation is recognized as an efficacious biotechnology for augmenting the nutritional and functional attributes of foods. In this study, the ameliorative effects of Lycium barbarum L. lyophilized powder fermented with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum NXU0011 (LP+Ly) on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice were investigated employing immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, macrogenomics, and metabolomics. The results revealed that LP+Ly intervention significantly ameliorated histopathological inflammation in the ulcerated colon, diminished the expression of inflammatory markers such as IL-6, P-STAT3, and miR-214, and enhanced the diversity of intestinal flora in the mouse model group. Moreover, there was an increase in the abundance of beneficial bacteria, including Lactobacillus, Prevotella, and Akkermansia. Metabolomic analysis indicated that 15 metabolites, including citrulline, D-xylose, and α-ketoisovaleric acid, exhibited significant variations following the LP+Ly intervention. The metabolic pathways that displayed substantial differences included tryptophan biosynthesis, arginine biosynthesis, and amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism. LP+Ly effectively improved the inflammatory state within the intestines by modulating arginine biosynthesis, thus alleviating the impact of UC.

Postharvest decay of goji berries, mainly caused by Alternaria alternata, results in significant economic losses. To investigate the effects of melatonin (MLT) on resistance to Alternaria rot in goji berries, the fruits were immersed in the MLT solutions with varying concentrations (0, 25, 50, and 75 μmol L−1) and then inoculated with A. alternata. The results showed that the fruits treated with 50 μmol L−1 MLT exhibited the lowest disease incidence and least lesion diameter. Meanwhile, endogenous MLT in the fruits treated with 50 μmol L−1 MLT showed higher levels than in the control fruits during storage at 4 ± 0.5 °C. Further, the enzymatic activities and expressions of genes encoding peroxidase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, cinnamate 4-hydroxylase, 4-coumarate-CoA ligase, chalcone synthase, chalcone isomerase, and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase were induced in the treated fruit during storage. UPLC-ESI-MS/MS revealed that secondary metabolites in the fruits on day 0, in order of highest to lowest levels, were rutin, p-coumaric acid, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, naringenin, quercetin, kaempferol, and protocatechuic acid. MLT-treated fruits exhibited higher levels of secondary metabolites than the control. In conclusion, MLT treatment contributed to controlling the postharvest decay of goji fruit during storage by boosting endogenous MLT levels, thus activating the antioxidant system and secondary metabolism.