Lycium chinense is one of two species of boxthorn in the family Solanaceae from which the goji berry or wolfberry is harvested, the other being Lycium barbarum. The plant is used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of nightsweats, pneumonia, cough, hematemesis, inflammation, and diabetes mellitus. Lycium chinense Miller extracts may have the possible beneficial effects in Parkinson's disease by attenuating rotenone induced toxicity.

The SFE of Lycium chinense Miller root  effectively suppressed intracellular tyrosinase activity and decreased the melanin content in B16F10 cells. The root extract also effectively decreased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Furthermore, the root extract decreased the expression of melanocortin 1 receptor, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-1 and then inhibited melanogenesis in B16F10 cells. The root extract also showed antioxidant capacities and depleted cellular ROS.