Lychee
(variously spelled litchi, liechee, liche, lizhi or li zhi, or lichee) Chinese Cherry, Euphoria didyma, Lechia, Leechee, Lichee, Litchi, Litchi chinensis, Litchi philippinensis, Nephelium litchi.
(Litchi chinensis; Chinese: 荔枝; pinyin: lìzhī) is the sole member of the genus Litchi in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae. It is a tropical tree native to the Guangdong and Fujian provinces of China, where cultivation is documented from 1059 AD. China is the main producer of lychees, followed by India, other countries in Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent and South Africa.
A tall evergreen tree, the lychee bears small fleshy fruits. The outside of the fruit is pink-red, roughly textured and inedible, covering sweet flesh eaten in many different dessert dishes. Since the perfume-like flavor is lost in the process of canning, the fruit is usually eaten fresh.
Lychee contains many phytochemicals. The seeds have been found to contain methylenecyclopropylglycine which can cause hypoglycemia, while outbreaks of encephalopathy in Indian and Vietnamese children have also been linked to its consumption.
There are three subspecies, determined by flower arrangement, twig thickness, fruit, and number of stamens.
Litchi chinensis is an evergreen tree that is frequently less than 15 m (49 ft) tall, sometimes reaching 28 m (92 ft).
The fleshy, edible portion of the fruit is an aril, surrounding one dark brown inedible seed that is 1 to 3.3 cm long and 0.6 to 1.2 cm wide (0.39–1.30 by 0.24–0.47 in).
The fruit can be dried with the rind intact, at which point the flesh shrinks and darkens. Dried lychees are often called lychee nuts, though they are not a real nut. Fresh whole lychee contains a total 72 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams of fruit, an amount representing 86% of the Daily Value (DV) (table, right). On average, consuming nine peeled lychee fruits would meet an adult’s daily vitamin C requirement.
Sugars: 15.23 g per 100 g”
Note of caution: Do not consume the seeds a lot or eat the (unripe) fruit on a empty stomach, as they severely effect blood sugar levels.
Anti-inflammatory (excerpt from research:” This in vivo study suggests that FRLFE (Flavanol-rich lychee fruit extract ) supplementation may suppress inflammation or tissue damage caused by high-intensity exercise training. “) *see research link PMC3976307/
Antioxidant (excerpt from research:” epicatechin, procyanidin B2, procyanidin C1 and A-type procyanidin trimer were the majority of main procyanidins in litchi pulp. “) *see research link PMC4368102/ , 11312772
Can be used as a safe food additive (antioxidant) *see research link 27213457
Contains procyanidin B2, a compound that accelerates hairgrowth faster than Minoxidil *see research link 27041875 ,11841365
Seeds contain protocatechuic acid which is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory * see research link 19645237 and wiki link
Anti-aging and melanin inhibiting, the peel extract ( excerpt from research:” Litchi extract proved significantly (p < 0.05) more effective for elastase and collagenase inhibition (88.29 ± 0.25% and 79.46 ± 0.92%, respectively) Extracts suppress melanin production in B16F10 melanoma cells “)
Organic sunscreen against uva & uvb (excerpt from research:” The extract was able to reduce the ROS production. The SPF obtained was 18.9 at 1mg/mL. Data herein obtained pointed out the potential of L. chinensis extract for photochemoprotection against UVA/UVB radiation and its damaging effects on human skin. “) *see research link 28086120/
Anti-thrombotic *see research link /22200762
Research on Litchi:














