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Lychee Berry Extract

Also known as: Lychee, Litchi, Lychee berry, Lychee berry extract, Litchi chinensis (fruit and seed) extract, Oligonol, Litchi chinensis extract

Overview

Lychee berry extract is derived from the fruit and seeds of *Litchi chinensis*, a subtropical fruit native to Asia. It is characterized by its rich content of polyphenols, particularly oligomerized polyphenols, and other bioactive compounds. This botanical extract is primarily investigated for its antioxidant properties, potential to enhance metabolic function during exercise, and its anti-diabetic effects. It has also shown promise in improving lipid profiles and offering protective benefits for liver health. While research is ongoing, initial studies suggest its bioactivity is linked to its high antioxidant capacity and its influence on glucose and lipid metabolism. The extract is available as a herbal supplement, with research maturity being moderate, encompassing several preclinical and small-scale clinical studies.

Benefits

Lychee berry extract offers several potential benefits, primarily driven by its rich polyphenol content: * **Enhanced Exercise Performance:** A small open-label human trial indicated that 7-day supplementation with oligomerized lychee fruit extract significantly improved average power output during high-intensity intermittent exercise and reduced blood lactate accumulation. This suggests improved metabolic efficiency and antioxidant potential in athletes. * **Anti-Diabetic Effects:** Multiple animal studies have demonstrated that lychee seed extracts can significantly reduce plasma glucose levels, improve lipid profiles, and enhance renal function in diabetic models. These effects are attributed to improved insulin sensitivity and reduced inflammation, showing strong preclinical evidence for hypoglycemic properties. * **Liver Health Support:** Preclinical models suggest that oligomerized polyphenols from lychee extract (Oligonol) may help alleviate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by positively modulating gut microbiota and reducing liver steatosis. This indicates a potential role in metabolic liver disorders. * **Antioxidant Properties:** The high concentration of polyphenols provides significant antioxidant capacity, helping to scavenge reactive oxygen species and reduce oxidative stress, which is beneficial across various physiological processes. * **Anti-Cancer Potential:** Preliminary in vitro and animal studies have hinted at anti-cancer properties of lychee seed polyphenols, though this area requires substantial further research and clinical validation.

How it works

Lychee berry extract exerts its effects through multiple mechanisms, primarily centered around its rich polyphenol content. The potent antioxidant polyphenols actively scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby reducing oxidative stress, particularly during strenuous activities like high-intensity exercise. For its anti-diabetic effects, the extract is believed to inhibit alpha-amylase, which slows carbohydrate digestion, and improve insulin sensitivity. It also reduces inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and modulates glucose regulatory proteins like Grp78. In terms of liver benefits, the extract's oligomerized polyphenols may modulate gut microbiota composition and influence the production of short-chain fatty acids, leading to improved metabolic and inflammatory profiles. Overall, the bioactive compounds interact with various molecular targets involved in glucose metabolism, lipid regulation, and inflammation.

Side effects

Overall, lychee berry and seed extracts appear to be well-tolerated in animal models and small human trials with short-term use. No significant adverse effects were reported in the available human study focusing on exercise performance. However, comprehensive toxicity data in humans, especially for long-term use, are limited. While traditional use of lychee fruit suggests a low toxicity profile, caution is advised due to the scarcity of extensive clinical safety data for concentrated extracts. There are currently no well-documented drug interactions or contraindications reported in the reviewed scientific literature. Individuals with pre-existing medical conditions, particularly diabetes, should consult a healthcare professional before use, given its potential effects on blood glucose. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should also exercise caution due to insufficient safety data.

Dosage

Human dosing guidelines for lychee berry extract are currently sparse and not well-established. The primary human study on exercise performance utilized an unspecified dose of oligomerized lychee fruit extract over a 7-day supplementation period. Animal studies investigating anti-diabetic effects typically employed lychee seed extract doses ranging from 100–200 mg/kg body weight. Due to the limited human data, an optimal dosage, timing of administration, and the most effective formulation for specific purposes remain unclear. Consumers should be aware that dosages may vary significantly depending on the extract's concentration and standardization. Further rigorous clinical investigation is required to determine safe and effective dosing ranges for human use, as well as to establish upper limits and safety thresholds.

FAQs

Is lychee berry extract effective for blood sugar control?

Animal studies strongly support its potential to reduce blood glucose and improve lipid profiles. However, human randomized controlled trials are currently lacking to confirm these effects in people.

Can it improve exercise performance?

Preliminary human data from a small open-label study suggest short-term benefits in high-intensity intermittent exercise, including increased power output and reduced lactate accumulation.

Is lychee berry extract safe?

Limited human data indicate good tolerability and no significant adverse effects in short-term use. However, long-term safety and comprehensive toxicity data in humans are currently unknown.

How quickly do benefits appear?

Exercise performance benefits were observed after 7 days of supplementation. In animal models, metabolic effects related to blood sugar control were typically seen over a period of 28 days.

Research Sources

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8580582/ – This open-label human trial with 10 male athletes showed that 7-day supplementation with oligomerized lychee fruit extract significantly increased average power output and reduced blood lactate during high-intensity intermittent exercise, suggesting improved metabolism and antioxidant potential. The study, while promising, was limited by its small sample size and lack of a placebo control.
https://publishing.emanresearch.org/Journal/abstract/angiotherapy-879738 – This in vivo rat RCT demonstrated that hydroethanolic extracts of lychee seeds significantly reduced plasma glucose levels, improved lipid profiles, and enhanced renal function in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats over 28 days. Histological evidence also showed reduced liver and kidney damage, providing strong preclinical evidence for anti-diabetic effects.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9319370/ – This preclinical study, with limited human data, suggests that oligomerized polyphenols from lychee extract (Oligonol) may alleviate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by modulating gut microbiota and reducing liver steatosis. The findings are promising but require further clinical validation to confirm efficacy in humans.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.737803/full – This review article synthesizes various preclinical studies, highlighting the anti-hyperglycemic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer potential of lychee seed polyphenols. It underscores the need for human randomized controlled trials to translate these promising in vitro and animal findings into clinical applications.