Lychee fruit found to be a potent source of anti-tumor compounds

( Natural News ) Lychee is a fruit that has a hard, bumpy, red skin that can be easily peeled away. Inside it is a soft, white jelly-like juicy pulp and a large brown inedible seed. Aside from its sweet and juicy taste, there are more reasons to eat this red, round fruit. A recent study review finds that different parts of lychee fruit contain anti-tumor compounds and can potentially prevent different types of cancers. Researchers from the University of Palerno in Italy conducted a comprehensive analysis on the anti-tumor properties of the various parts of lychee . In the study, they reviewed previous research on the anti-tumor compounds that lychee and its different parts contain. Lychee ( Litchi chinensis ), also known as Chinese cherry, is a fruit tree that was originally cultivated in China for over 2,300 years and in northern Vietnam, and is now grown in tropical areas globally, including Southeast Asian countries, the Indian subcontinent, and South Africa. Mainly grown in China, India, Thailand, and Vietnam, lychee fruit is not only packed with vitamins, minerals, and others, but can also boost your endurance and workouts . The researchers found that apart from its pulp, its inedible parts including its skin and seed can inhibit tumor growth. They found that the lychee pulp contains polysaccharides, which have strong antioxidant activity, anti-tumor, and immunomodulatory effects. Moreover, researchers also found that lychees contain polyphenols which are packed with antioxidants and play a role in cancer prevention. The role of polysaccharides in preventing tumor growth was found in in vitro studies of lung adenocarcinoma, cervical cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma models. Lychee pulp also contains galactose and manose that have anti-tumor effect on gastric, liver, and lung cancers. Moreover, mice studies revealed that its pulp extract prevented liver damage. The […]

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