Lychee and Longan, Super Fruits and Functional Foods

Lychee has been widely cultivated in the Chinese provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian and Sichuan. The major chemical constituents of lychee are flavonoids, sterols, triterpenes, phenolics, and other bioactive compounds. The most important health benefits of lychee are for skin such as prevent signs of ageing, help remove blemishes, reduce sunburns, it also has hair benefits, namely, and promote hair growth. Other important health benefits are anticancer effect, promote cardiovascular health, improve digestion, prevent cataract, act against influenza, aid weight loss, regulate blood circulation, prevent blood vessel rupture, anti-inflammatory energy, protect from herpes virus, strengthen immunity, regulate blood pressure, provide stronger bones, prevent anemia and increase libido. The most important biological activities of longan pericarp are tyrosinase inhibitory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-glycated, anti-cancer, memory-increasing effects and other parameters which have a significant contribution to human health.