ABSTRACT

Longan is a kind of plant belonging to the Sapindaceae family and widely planted in China and southeast Asian countries. The longan fruits have long been traditionally used as a kind of herbal in Chinese medicinal formulation, in addition to being consumed as a fruit. In recent studies, polysaccharides and polyphenols extracted from longan pericarp, pulp, and seed have been identified as the main bioactive components in longans with a broad range of health effects and activities, such as antitumor, antioxidant, and immunological activities and anti-α-glucosidase and anti-α-amylase activities. Due to their prominent bioactivities, the longan extract have been considered as an important source of natural antioxidants or supplements. This chapter reviews the extraction, purification, physicochemical properties, processing, and biological activities of longan polysaccharides and polyphenols and provides reference for further investigation and utilization of longan polysaccharides and polyphenols.