Litchi chinensis
Litchi
Litchi chinensis, commonly known as lychee, is a tropical evergreen tree prized for its sweet, juicy fruit. Beyond its culinary appeal, this plant holds significant medicinal value in traditional practices. It is frequently utilized for its antioxidant properties, helping to support immune function and combat oxidative stress in the body.
- Scientific name: Litchi chinensis
- Family: Sapindaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Sapindales, falling within the family Sapindaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Litchi.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Sapindales | WCVP |
| Family | Sapindaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Litchi | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Litchi chinensis, is referred to by various common names depending on the region and language. In English, it is known as Lychee in Canada (en-ca) and lychee in Great Britain (en-gb), while in French (fr), it is called litchi. In Arabic (ar), the name is ليتشي, and in Azerbaijani (az), it is called Liçi.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| fr | litchi | Wikidata |
| en-ca | Lychee | Wikidata |
| en-gb | lychee | Wikidata |
| ar | ليتشي | Wikidata |
| az | Liçi | Wikidata |
| be | Лічы | Wikidata |
| bi | Leji | Wikidata |
| bn | লিচু | Wikidata |
| bo | འབྲུག་ཚགས། | Wikidata |
| bs | Liči | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, Litchi chinensis, exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several distinct regions. In the Western Indian Ocean, it can be found growing in both Mauritius and Réunion. Its native range extends across China, specifically within the Hainan province and the China Southeast region. Additionally, the species is present within the Indian Subcontinent, particularly in Assam. These varied locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in different tropical and subtropical environments.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Indian Ocean | Mauritius | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Réunion | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Andaman Is. | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Cambodia | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Litchi chinensis, offers various components that are utilized for their distinct properties. The sweet, juicy pulp is the most commonly consumed part, though the pericarp serves as a protective outer layer for the fruit. Within the fruit, a large, hard seed is found at the center. Additionally, the vegetative structures of the tree, including the broad leaves and each individual leaf, can be studied for their specific botanical characteristics and potential medicinal applications.- Total parts
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 9
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| seed | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pulp | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pericarp | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruits | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flowers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Seeds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Litchi chinensis has 24 reported phytochemicals identified across 25 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include leucocyanidin, (+)-gallocatechin, (-)-epigallocatechin, EC, OTA.
- Total chemicals
- 24
- Scientific sources
- 25
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leucocyanidin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (+)-gallocatechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (-)-epigallocatechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| EC | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| OTA | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Phloretin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anthocyanins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| butylated hydroxytoluene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cyanidin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| epicatechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Litchi chinensis has 12 reported activities identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Analgesic, Anticarcinogenic.
- Total activities
- 12
- Scientific sources
- 19
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticarcinogenic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihyperglycemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antipyretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiviral | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diuretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hemostatic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Litchi chinensis has 17 reported medicinal uses identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include apoptosis, colon cancer, cough, diabetic complications, dyslipidemia.
- Total uses
- 17
- Scientific sources
- 17
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| apoptosis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| colon cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cough | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diabetic complications | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dyslipidemia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flatulence | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hyperglycemia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| insulin resistance | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| liver | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |