Aging and age-related diseases are important study topics due to their associations with progressive physiological damage to genes, cells, tissues, and the entire organism, which ultimately affects the functional efficiency of organs. Lycium ruthenicum Murr. is a functional food that is known for its high contents of anthocyanins and spermidines, both of which have been demonstrated to have positive effects on anti-aging activity and anti-oxidation. In this study, we used HPLC-MS to analyze the constituents of L. ruthenicum Murr. Extract (LRM) and investigated their potential mechanism for exerting antioxidative effects in D-galactose (D-Gal) aging model mice. LRM (25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, and 100 mg/kg) improved cognitive function in D-Gal-treated mice, as shown by reduced escape latencies and increased platform crossings in behavioral tests. We measured the contents of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and the enzyme activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in mice serum and brain after 6 weeks of D-Gal treatment. LRM decreased the contents of LPO and MDA and increased the enzyme activities of SOD and GSH-Px, indicating the protection effect of LRM against D-Gal-induced oxidative stress. Additionally, LRM can inhibit oxidative stress in cells by reducing intracellular ROS levels and restoring mitochondrial membrane potential, thereby inhibiting paraquat (PQ)-induced cellular senescence and delaying cell aging. Therefore, LRM has the potential to be a healthcare product for the treatment of age-related diseases.

Since the onset of industrialization, the safety of arable land has become a pressing global concern, with soil salinization emerging as a critical threat to agricultural productivity and food security. To address this challenge, the cultivation of economically valuable salt-tolerant plants has been proposed as a viable strategy. In the study, we investigated the physiological and molecular responses of Lycium ruthenicum Murr. to varying NaCl concentrations. Results revealed a concentration-dependent dual effect: low NaCl levels significantly promoted seed germination, while high concentrations exerted strong inhibitory effects. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying these divergent responses, a combined analysis of metabolomics and transcriptomics was applied to identify key metabolic pathways and genes. Notably, salt stress enhanced photosynthetic efficiency through coordinated modulation of ribulose 5-phosphate and erythrose-4-phosphate levels, coupled with the upregulation of critical genes encoding RPIA (Ribose 5-phosphate isomerase A) and RuBisCO (Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase). Under low salt stress, L. ruthenicum maintained intact cellular membrane structures and minimized oxidative damage, thereby supporting germination and early growth. In contrast, high salinity severely disrupted PS I (Photosynthesis system I) functionality, blocking energy flow into this pathway while simultaneously inducing membrane lipid peroxidation and triggering pronounced cellular degradation. This ultimately suppressed seed germination rates and impaired root elongation. These findings suggested a mechanistic framework for understanding L. ruthenicum adaptation under salt stress and pointed out a new way for breeding salt-tolerant crops and understanding the mechanism.