Methyl-inositol, γ-aminobutyric acid and other health benefit compounds in the aril of litchi.
The available components in the flesh of litchi seem insufficient to interpret its wide and significant physiological effects. Some unusual compounds, including myo-inositol, inositol methyl derivatives and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were identified as main constituents in the flesh of litchi. Their concentrations varied among cultivars but remain relatively constant during development. Litchi flesh was shown to contain moderate myo-inositol (0.28-0.78 mg g(-1) FW), ascorbic acid (0.08-0.39 mg g(-1) FW) and phenolics (0.47-1.60 mg g(-1) FW), but abundant l-quebrachitol (1.6-6.4 mg g(-1) FW) and GABA (1.7-3.5 mg g(-1) FW). The concentration of GABA in the flesh of litchi was about 100 times higher than in other fruits. And l-quebrachitol is not a common component in fruits. The biological and physiological activities of inositols, inositol derivatives and GABA have been extensively documented. These compounds are probably important compositional characteristic contributing to the widely shown health benefits of litchi.
a Guangdong Litchi Engineering Research Center, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University , Guangzhou , China ;
Zi-Chen
ZC
Wu
a Guangdong Litchi Engineering Research Center, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University , Guangzhou , China ;|b Agricultural College, Guangdong Ocean University , Zhanjiang , China.
Zhuan-Ying
ZY
Yang
a Guangdong Litchi Engineering Research Center, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University , Guangzhou , China ;
Jian-Guo
JG
Li
a Guangdong Litchi Engineering Research Center, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University , Guangzhou , China ;
Hou-Bin
HB
Chen
a Guangdong Litchi Engineering Research Center, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University , Guangzhou , China ;
Xu-Ming
XM
Huang
a Guangdong Litchi Engineering Research Center, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University , Guangzhou , China ;
Hui-Cong
HC
Wang
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D007294:Inositol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D032125:Litchi / Q000737:chemistry*; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000032:analysis*
D000596:Amino Acids; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D007294:Inositol; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; C056476:quebrachitol; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; C515760:methylinositol
Litchi chinensis; l-quebrachitol; myo-inositol; phenolics; γ-Aminobutyric acid