In Vitro Regeneration and Antioxidant Propertiesof Lycium Barbarum L. (Goji)

Ethnobotanical studies has documented the consumption of goji by Chinese tribes since ancient times. Goji or scientifically known as Lycium barbarum L. belongs to Solanaceae family and native to some areas of China. The present study was conducted to determine the best explant and corresponding hormonal compositions for Goji in vitro regeneration. In addition, the age and organ of in vitro seedlings with the optimum level of antioxidant activity were also identified. For in vitro regeneration, leaves and nodes were used as explants and cultured on in vitro regeneration media with varying hormonal concentration, combinations of alpha-napthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 6-benzyl amino purine (BAP). The optimum combination for in vitro regeneration was found in leaf explants treated with equal concentration of 0.5 mg/L NAA and BAP each. DPPH assay for antioxidant activity screening done on methanolic extracts of samples from two through five month-old in vitro seedlings. shows the highest antioxidant activity in two-month old leaf and stem samples with the EC50 value of 0.08 mg/ml. Indeed, the results revealed that L. barbarum has the potency to be excellently micropropagated that possesses an outstanding antioxidant activity that is essential in phytomedicines.