Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) is a tropical to subtropical fruit that is widely cultivated in more than 20 countries worldwide. It is normally consumed as fresh or processed and has become one of the most popular fruits because it has a delicious flavor, attractive color, and high nutritive value. Whole litchi fruits have been used not only as a food source but also for medicinal purposes. As a traditional Chinese medicine, litchi has been used for centuries to treat stomach ulcers, diabetes, cough, diarrhea, and dyspepsia, as well as to kill intestinal worms. Both in vitro and in vivo studies have indicated that whole litchi fruits exhibit antioxidant, hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, and antiobesity activities and show anticancer, antiatherosclerotic, hypotensive, neuroprotective, and immunomodulatory activities. The health benefits of litchi have been attributed to its wide range of nutritional components, among which polysaccharides and polyphenols have been proven to possess various beneficial properties. The diversity and composition of litchi polysaccharides and polyphenols have vital influences on their biological activities. In addition, consuming fresh litchi and its products could lead to some adverse reactions for some people such as pruritus, urticaria, swelling of the lips, swelling of the throat, dyspnea, or diarrhea. These safety problems are probably caused by the soluble protein in litchi that could cause anaphylactic and inflammatory reactions. To achieve reasonable applications of litchi in the food, medical and cosmetics industries, this review focuses on recent findings related to the nutrient components, health benefits, and safety of litchi.
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