Introduction
Longan fruit is a tropical fruit mainly produced in several Southeastern Asian countries. These fruits are well known for their juicy aromatic sweet taste with light reddish brown peel and white translucent flesh (1) containing one single black seed. Longan fruits closely resemble the common fruit Lychee both in terms of taste and appearance (2). This article is about the dried longan fruit benefits.
Importance of longan fruits in traditional medicine
The longan fruits are known as a tonic herb of the blood deficiency category. They are warm thus helping in slowing down the acute reactions and detoxifying the body. In Chinese tradition, these fruits are used to purify the blood calm the body, and relieve mental fatigue (3).
Longan fruit benefits
Fruits of longan are rich in vitamins like B1, B2, B3 and C. Minerals like phosphorus, potassium, and adenine are also there in these fruits. Along with this longans are rich in dietary fiber, carbohydrates, proteins, and amino acids (2).
The health benefits of longan fruits are good for the skin, reduce wrinkles thus effects positively aging, anti-anxiety, treat insomnia, can be used as a blood tonic, and immune booster, prevent chronic diseases, help in digestion, and improve memory, and vision, and healing (7).
Nutritional facts of longan fruit per 100 grams
| Vitamins | Thiamine (B1) | 0.031 mg |
| Riboflavin (B2) | 0.14 mg | |
| Niacin | 0.3 mg | |
| Vitamin C | 84 mg | |
| Minerals | Calcium | 1 mg |
| Iron | 0.13 mg | |
| Magnesium | 10 mg | |
| Manganese | 0.052 mg | |
| Phosphorus | 21 mg | |
| Potassium | 266 mg | |
| Zinc | 0.05 mg | |
| Protein | Threonine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Valine, Arginine, Histidine, Alanine, Aspartic acid, Glutamic acid, Glycine, Proline, Serine | 1.31 g |
| Fat | 0.1 g | |
| Energy | 60 kcal | |
| Carbohydrates | 15.14 g | |
| Dietary fiber | 1.1 g |
Dried longan fruit benefits
1. Immune-modulatory function
Dried longan fruits have immunomodulatory properties (3). This helps in boosting the immune system of the body by modulating or controlling immunostimulators or decreasing (immunosuppressives) the production of serum antibodies (4).
2. Treats insomnia
Scientists revealed that the dried fruits of longan help in promoting blood metabolism thus soothing the nerves and ultimately relieving insomnia and inducing sleep (5).
3. Reduces anxiety
The dried fruits of lignan also help in reducing anxiety by helping in relaxing the nervous system of the body (6).
Effect of drying the Longan fruits
Drying longan fruits increases their longevity and can be stored for long periods. Drying may change the composition of the fruits as some components decrease and some increase.
After drying the longan fruits the amounts of ketones and alcohols decreased whereas furans and esters increased. Natural furans have anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial activities (7).
Along with this the total amount of volatile compounds also decreases on drying longan fruits. The amount of total reducing sugars and total free amino acids also decreases after drying (8).
Side effects
1. Gastriintestinal distress
Along with health benefits, there are some negative effects or side effects of dried logan too like too much dried logan may result in gastrointestinal distress.
2. Avoid during pregnancy
Too much eating longan fruit may cause complications in pregnancy (9).
3. Sugar content
Some products of dried longan also have additional sugar coating. Hence person having diabetes should check the ingredients before buying.