Lychee is a fruit that is a hybrid between a citrus fruit and the tea plant. The fruit looks like a large grape and is about an inch long. Lychee was developed in China where it was used as a medicinal treatment for a variety of ailments including acne, arthritis and gout. In the recent past, more people have started growing Lychee for consumption. One of the main benefits of Lychee is that it contains a substance called oligopoly which is an active ingredient that is known to reduce the symptoms of age-related diseases.
To date, there are no well-documented studies that prove the effectiveness of lychee fruit extracts on human diseases. However, many clinical trials on Lychee plants have been conducted in Korea and Europe. In these studies, experts from around the globe have evaluated the beneficial effects of Lychee on various age-related problems such as dementia, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, skin wrinkles etc. The majority of these clinical studies showed that Lychee extract significantly reduced the signs of aging. Most of these studies were conducted using Lychee trees grown in the lab.
Lychee trees are grown in tropical regions of South Korea and China and there are about 40 different cultivars in the market. Lychee fruit seeds can be easily bought from local supermarkets and health food stores. It is important to note that Lychee fruit seeds must not be exposed to direct sunlight because this can cause the destruction of the seed coating. The most important thing to do when preparing Lychee fruit seeds is to make sure that the surface is protected from direct sunlight.
Lychee seedlings and cuttings need to be maintained very carefully. These seedlings and cuttings are extremely delicate as compared to normal trees and shrubs. They require much more care, attention and special fertilizing and monitoring since they are much more delicate.
Lychee contains several species of lipophyte algae which are commonly known as the mukul, waxy lipophyte algae (Xanthium), xerophyllae and the silica based algae. Some of these species can also produce useful medicines. Lychee has been found to contain several pharmaceutical drugs which are particularly useful for treating cancer. Saw palmetto, nettle root and the lycopene are considered to be very good antioxidants. The antioxidants present in Lychee fruits and vegetables act as powerful free radical scavengers which help in getting rid of the harmful effects of the harmful ultra violet rays. Some of these fruits and vegetables have also been found to prevent the formation of high levels of cholesterol in the body.
Lychee fruit is a popular delicacy in South Korea. Its use as a health food is still not common in other parts of the world. It is hardy and is resistant to some insects such as bullet. However, it needs to be kept carefully as some studies have shown that it contains dangerous levels of toxins which can be fatal to animals and humans if eaten. Therefore, Lychee should be consumed in very small quantities as recommended by health care experts.