Chemical Composition and Anti-inflammatory Activity of Litchi chinensis Seed Extracts

ZHAO Huan; TIAN Yufeng; YANG Lanlan; NIU Jingming; RAN Yuanquan; TIAN Minyi

doi:10.13982/j.mfst.1673-9078.2025.2.1541

Abstract：Ethanol and aqueous extracts of lychee seeds(Litchi chinensis Sonn.)were obtained by reflux extraction using 70％ethanol and water,respectively.The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method and NaNO2-Al(NO3)3-NaOH colorimetry.Ethanol and aqueous lychee seed extracts were rich in phenolic and flavonoid compounds.Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry was used to identify their chemical compositions.A total of 72 chemical components were identified,including 13 phenolic and 29 flavonoid compounds.The ethanol and aqueous extracts showed significant 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)scavenging activities(2.10 and 6.30 μg/mL,respectively)and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activities(2.98 and 16.90 μg/mL,respectively).The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide,Griess reagent,and enzyme-linked immunosprbent assays showed that a non-toxic dose of the ethanol extract effectively inhibited the release of nitric oxide,IL-6 and IL-1β in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells.The ethanol and aqueous extracts demonstrated excellentα-glucosidase inhibitory activities(0.14 and 6.03 μg/mL,respectively),superior to that of the positive control,acarbose(189.40 μg/mL).The ethanol extract exhibited strong tyrosinase inhibitory activity(139.85 μg/mL),which was significantly better than that of the positive control,arbutin.Moreover,the ethanol extract exhibited remarkable acetylcholinesterase(34.91 μg/mL)and butyrylcholinesterase(21.91 μg/mL)inhibitory activities.In summary,lychee seeds are rich in phenolic and flavonoid compounds and has antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,hypoglycemic,whitening,enzyme inhibitory,and anti-Alzheimer's disease properties.These results provide a theoretical basis for the development and utilization of lychee as a source of active ingredients in the fields of cosmetics,functional foods,and pharmaceuticals.