Antioxidant Properties and Bioactivities of Litchi Compounds

Litchi (Litchi chinensis) fruit, including its pulp, pericarp and seeds, is a rich source of polyphenolic compounds such as flavonoids, anthocyanins and procyanidins. These molecules exhibit potent antioxidant activity by scavenging reactive oxygen species and chelating transition metals, thereby protecting cellular components from oxidative damage. Beyond antioxidant defence, litchi constituents modulate key signalling pathways involved in inflammation, energy metabolism and cell survival. Extracts and isolated compounds have demonstrated anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic and anticancer effects in a variety of in vitro and in vivo models. Differences in cultivar, harvest stage and post-harvest processing influence phenolic profiles and bioactivity, underpinning the need for optimised extraction and formulation strategies. The global significance of these findings lies in the potential of litchi-derived ingredients as functional food components, nutraceuticals or adjuncts in therapeutic regimens for chronic diseases associated with oxidative stress and inflammation.

Research from Nature Portfolio

One foundational study explored the effects of a n-butanol extract from litchi seeds on prostate cancer cell lines and xenograft models. The extract induced mitochondrial apoptosis and G1/S cell cycle arrest through inhibition of the Akt signalling pathway, while also reversing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition by modulating GSK-3β activity. In vivo treatment reduced tumour growth without evident toxicity, suggesting that litchi seed constituents may serve as a basis for novel anticancer agents targeting both proliferative and metastatic processes.

Antioxidant Properties and Bioactivities of Litchi Compounds publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in antioxidant properties and bioactivities of litchi compounds across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Polyphenolic compounds: Plant-derived secondary metabolites characterised by multiple phenol units, known for antioxidant activity.

Procyanidins: Oligomeric flavan-3-ols that contribute to free-radical scavenging and metal-chelating capacity.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Chemically reactive molecules containing oxygen that can damage proteins, lipids and DNA.

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK): A cellular energy sensor that regulates metabolic homeostasis by responding to changes in AMP/ATP ratio.

Nuclear factor erythroid2-related factor 2 (Nrf2): A transcription factor that upregulates antioxidant and detoxification genes in response to oxidative stress.

Nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB): A transcriptional regulator central to inflammatory and immune responses, activated by various stress signals.

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT): A cellular programme enabling epithelial cells to acquire mesenchymal properties, implicated in metastasis.

References

1. Litchi seed extracts diminish prostate cancer progression via induction of apoptosis and attenuation of EMT through Akt/GSK-3β signaling. Scientific Reports (2017).
2. Litchi Pericarp Extract Treats Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus by Regulating Oxidative Stress, Inflammatory Response, and Energy Metabolism. Antioxidants (2024).
3. Advancements in Litchi chinensis Peel Processing: A Scientific Review of Drying, Extraction, and Isolation of Its Bioactive Compounds. Foods (2024).
4. Litchi procyanidins inhibit colon cancer proliferation and metastasis by triggering gut-lung axis immunotherapy. Cell Death & Disease (2023).