# Advances in the Study of Bioactive Compounds and
## 3 Bioactive Compounds in Goji Berry and Advancements in Their Cultivations  
The remarkable health-promoting properties attributed to goji berries are largely due to their rich array of bioactive compounds. These phytochemicals, which include polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and various other substances, have been the subject of extensive scientific investigation. **Polysaccharides. ** Polysaccharides, particularly LBPs, are considered the primary bioactive components of goji berries. These complex carbohydrates have garnered significant attention due to their potential health benefits, including immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and anti-tumor properties. The monosaccharide composition of LBPs includes arabinose, glucose, galactose, mannose, rhamn, and xylose, with galactose often being the predominant sugar. The ratios of these monosaccharides can vary depending on the specific fraction of LBPs analyzed. Some LBPs also contain uronic acids, particularly galacturonic acid, which contribute to their acidic nature. The extraction and purification of LBPs from goji berries have evolved significantly over the years, with researchers continually seeking to improve the yield, purity, and preservation of biological activity [34]. Traditional methods of extraction typically involve hot water extraction, which exploits the water-soluble nature of LBPs [20]. However, this method often results in the co-extraction of other water-soluble compounds, necessitating further purification steps. More recent extraction methods have focused on optimizing conditions to enhance yield and selectivity. These include ultrasound-assisted extraction [35], which uses acoustic cavitation to disrupt cell walls and improve mass transfer, and microwave-assisted extraction [36], which provides rapid and efficient heating. Enzyme-assisted extraction has also been explored, using cellulases and pectinases to break down cell wall components and facilitate the release of LBPs [37]. Following extraction, purification of LBPs typically involves a combination of techniques. Ethanol precipitation is often used as an initial step to separate polysaccharides from low molecular weight compounds [38]. This is followed by more sophisticated chromatographic techniques for further fractionation and purification. Ion-exchange chromatography is commonly employed to separate neutral and acidic polysaccharides [39]. Size-exclusion chromatography allows for the separation of LBPs based on their molecular weight. Affinity chromatography, utilizing the specific binding properties of certain LBPs, has also been used for selective purification. Advanced membrane technologies, such as ultrafiltration [40], have been applied to the purification of LBPs. These techniques offer the advantage of scalability and can be used to separate LBPs based on molecular weight cutoffs. Our previous study aimed to identify and classify 20 species and varieties of _Lycium spp_. using electrochemical fingerprinting technology [41]. We collected electrochemical data from leaf tissues using two different extraction solvents and electrolytes. The study revealed that different _Lycium_ species exhibited distinct electrochemical fingerprints, while varieties of the same species showed relatively similar profiles. Various machine learning models were applied to the processed data, with stochastic gradient boosting achieving the highest identification accuracy of 93.33% after the second derivative treatment. Other models, like support vector machines, also performed well, with an accuracy of 91.00%. The findings demonstrated that electrochemical fingerprinting combined with machine learning could effectively differentiate between species and varieties of _Lycium_ spp., providing a reliable method for plant identification. Table 1 shows polysaccharide compounds reported from goji berries with citations. **Carotenoids. ** Carotenoids are lipophilic pigments that contribute to the characteristic orange-red color of goji berries.