Dimocarpus longan
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64401718f3527158549053 |
| Scientific name | Dimocarpus longan |
| Authority | Lour. |
| First published in | Fl. Cochinch. : 233 (1790) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Across East and Southeast Asia the dried arils of Dimocarpus longan have long been valued for calming preparations. In Traditional Chinese Medicine the arils (Long Yan Rou) are steeped as a mild tea or boiled in a decoction to quiet the spirit, nourish the heart and blood, and ease palpitations, a practice recorded in the Shennong Bencao Jing and elaborated by Li Shizhen in the Bencao Gangmu. Vietnamese folk healers similarly brew a hot infusion of the same part to relieve insomnia and anxiety, a use reported in a 2012 ethnobotanical survey by Nguyen et al., 2012. Thai practitioners prepare a decoction of the aril as a restorative tonic for palpitations and as a gentle night‑time beverage, an entry found in the Thai Herbal Pharmacopoeia, 2014. Modern herbal texts also describe a 1:5 ethanol tincture of the aril for sedative use (Bensky et al., 2010).
To make a simple longan tea, place about 10 g of thoroughly dried arils in a small teapot, pour 250 mL of just‑boiled water over them, cover and let the mixture steep for 5‑10 minutes. Strain and drink the warm infusion. The tea can be taken 1–2 times daily as needed for mild insomnia or nervous tension. Safety note: the preparation is generally mild, but it is not recommended for infants; pregnant women should avoid high‑dose regular consumption because the fruit has been linked with uterine activity in animal studies. People on sedatives or antihistamines should monitor for additive drowsiness.
The aril is rich in polysaccharides, especially the water‑soluble longan polysaccharides that have demonstrated immunomodulatory and antioxidant activity in several studies (Zheng et al., 2012). Flavonoids such as quercetin and myricetin are also present, contributing to the reported free‑radical scavenging capacity (Sun et al., 2010). Phenolic acids, notably gallic and caffeic acids, have been quantified in the fruit flesh and may account for its astringent, heart‑tonic reputation (Zhang et al., 2015). These compounds together provide a plausible biochemical basis for the calming, nourishing effects described in traditional preparations.
Research on longan polysaccharides continues to explore their anti‑inflammatory and neuroprotective potential, while dried arils are now sold worldwide as “longan tea” or in bottled functional drinks, underscoring the plant’s enduring role both in traditional practice and contemporary wellness markets.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Primary consumer product is the dried aril of Dimocarpus longan, sold vacuum-packed or in bulk for further processing. Concentrates and syrups are produced for beverages and desserts.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
Dried aril is used as an ingredient in sweet soups and puddings and as a snack. Flavored beverages and syrups are produced by blending longan concentrate with sugar, acidulants, and flavorings; pasteurization and aseptic packaging extend shelf life. Some producers add preservatives or sulfur dioxide to maintain color and microbial stability during storage. Aril pastes and purees are used in jams, jellies, fillings, and bakery fillings, with typical Brix, pH, and water activity ranges supporting microbial stability.
Properties relevant to use:
High sugar content (largely reducing sugars) supports browning and Maillard reactions in drying. Aril pectins contribute to gel strength in jams and syrups. Arils are high in soluble sugars and moisture, making them prone to browning and microbial spoilage; controlled drying curves and oxygen-barrier packaging mitigate these issues. Flavor is characterized by rich caramelized and fruity notes in dried products due to caramelization and Maillard chemistry.
Standards and regulation:
Export trade of fresh and dried arils follows general food hygiene codes, Good Manufacturing Practices, and food safety management systems such as ISO 22000 and HACCP. Packaging must meet general contact compliance for food (e.g., national food-contact plastics regulations). Dried arils typically have moisture specifications (often 12–18% w.b.) to ensure stability; residue limits and inspection procedures conform to international trade rules for dried fruits.
Sustainability and sourcing:
Production relies primarily on plantation-grown trees in China, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia. Supply constraints derive from long juvenile periods and seasonal availability. Cross-border fruit movement is regulated to prevent introduction of quarantine pests (e.g., controls for Bactrocera spp.). Diversifying sources and developing quick-freeze processing are strategies used to reduce spoilage and improve year-round availability.
Scientific/model-organism use:
A chromosome-scale reference genome has been published, enabling comparative genomics and evolutionary studies within Sapindaceae. This resource supports marker-assisted breeding for fruit traits such as yield, maturity, and quality attributes like sugar and organic acid profiles.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Nephelium benghalense | G.Don | Gen. Hist. 1: 670 (1831) |
| Nephelium longana | Cambess. | Mém. Mus. Hist. Nat. 18: 30 (1829) |
| Nephelium leichhardtii | F.Muell. | Austral. Veg. : 25 (1867) |
| Nephelium echinulatum | Ridl. | Fl. Malay Penins. 1: 503 (1922) |
| Nephelium pupillum | Wight | Ill. Ind. Bot. 1: 141 (1839) |
| Scytalia longan | Roxb. | Tracts St. Helena : 322 (1816) |
| Scytalia benghalensis | Roxb. ex Wight & Arn. | Prodr. Fl. Ind. Orient. : 113 (1834) |
| Sapindus undulatus | Wall. ex Voigt | Hort. Suburb. Calcutt. : 94 (1845) |
| Sapindus benghalensis | Roxb. ex Wight & Arn. | Prodr. Fl. Ind. Orient. : 113 (1834) |
| Scytalia verruculosa | Stokes | Bot. Mat. Med. 2: 386 (1812) |
| Arytera leichhardtii var. hebepetala | (Benth.) Radlk. | Sitzungsber. Math.-Phys. Cl. Königl. Bayer. Akad. Wiss. München 9: 556 (1879) |
| Dimocarpus pupilla | Moon | Cat. Pl. Ceylon. 31. 1824 |
| Dimocarpus undulatus | Wight ex Wight & Arn. | Prodr. Fl. Ind. Orient. : 113 (1834) |
| Euphoria echinulata | Radlk. | Rec. Bot. Surv. India 3: 347 (1907) |
| Euphoria leichhardtii | Benth. | Fl. Austral. 1: 468 (1863) |
| Euphoria leichhardtii var. hebepetala | Benth. | Fl. Austral. 1: 468 (1863) |
| Euphoria longan | (Lour.) Steud. | Nomencl. Bot. : 328 (1821) |
| Euphoria longana | Lam. | Encycl. 3: 574 (1792) |
| Euphoria undulata | Herb.Heyne ex Wall. | Numer. List [Wallich] n. 8049. 1847 |
| Euphoria verruculosa | Salisb. | Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton : 280 (1796) |
| Nephelium longan | (Lour.) Hook. |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | longan |
| English | dragonis eye |
| English | dragonís eye |
| English | pailin longan |
| English | ta-ngen |
| Spanish | euphoria microcarpa |
| Spanish | euphoria malaiensis |
| Spanish | euphoria cinerea |
| Spanish | euphoria glabra |
| Spanish | euphoria gracilis |
| Spanish | euphoria nephelioides |
| Spanish | longan |
| Spanish | nephelium glabrum |
| Spanish | dimocarpus pupilla |
| Spanish | dimocarpus undulatus |
| Spanish | euphoria verruculosa |
| Spanish | euphoria leichhardtii var. hebepetala |
| Spanish | euphoria longan |
| Spanish | euphoria longana |
| Spanish | euphoria undulata |
| Spanish | nephelium longan |
| Arabic | لونجان |
| Azerbaijani | lunğan |
| ban | kléngkéng |
| Bengali | আঁশফল |
| Bengali | কাঠলিচু |
| Tibetan | འབྲུག་མིག |
| Catalan | longan |
| cdo | lèng-gēng |
| Czech | longan |
| Danish | longan |
| German | longan-baum |
| German | longan |
| Persian | چشالو |
| Finnish | longaani |
| French | longane |
| French | longanier |
| hak | 牛眼 |
| Hebrew | לונגן |
| Hebrew | euphoria longana |
| Hungarian | longána |
| Indonesian | kelengkeng |
| Indonesian | klengkeng |
| Indonesian | longan |
| Indonesian | lengkeng |
| Indonesian | nephelium longan |
| Italian | longan |
| Japanese | ケイエンニク |
| Japanese | リュウガンニク |
| Japanese | 桂円肉 |
| Japanese | 竜眼 |
| Japanese | 竜眼肉 |
| Japanese | 龍眼 |
| Japanese | リュウガン |
| jv | klengkeng |
| jv | klèngkèng |
| Khmer | មៀនប៉ៃលិន |
| Korean | 롱간 |
| Korean | 롱안 |
| koi | Лонган |
| kv | Лонган |
| lbe | Лонган |
| Lithuanian | longanai |
| Lithuanian | tikrasis longanas |
| lzh | 龍眼 |
| Malayalam | longan |
| Malayalam | ചെമ്പുന്ന |
| Malayalam | പൊരിപ്പൂവണം |
| Malayalam | ലോങ്ങൻ |
| Malayalam | ലോംഗൻ |
| mnc | ᠮᡠᠶᠠᡵᡳ |
| mrj | Лонган |
| Malay | longan |
| Malay | pokok longan |
| Malay | mata kucing |
| Burmese | တောကြက်မောက် |
| nan | lêng-kéng |
| nan | lêng-géng |
| Norwegian Bokmål | longan |
| Dutch | lamyai |
| Dutch | lengkeng |
| Dutch | longan |
| os | Лонган (зайæгой) |
| Polish | longan |
| Portuguese | longan |
| Romanian | longan |
| Russian | Лонган |
| su | léngkéng |
| Tamil | நுரை |
| Tamil | தேன்கூழா |
| Thai | ลำใย |
| Thai | ลำไย |
| Turkish | longan |
| Turkish | pailin longan |
| Turkish | ta-ngen |
| udm | Лонган |
| ug | ئەجدىرھا كۆزى |
| Ukrainian | Лонган |
| Uzbek | longan |
| Vietnamese | nhãn |
| Vietnamese | cây nhãn |
| Vietnamese | long nhãn |
| xmf | ლონგანი (ჩანარი) |
| Yoruba | longan |
| za | maknganx |
| Chinese | 龙眼 |
| Chinese | 桂圆 |
| Chinese | 桂圓 |
| Chinese | 龍眼 |
| Chinese | 龙眼叶 |
| Chinese | 龙眼壳 |
| Chinese | 龙眼树皮 |
| Chinese | 龙眼核 |
| Chinese | 龙眼根 |
| Chinese | 龙眼肉 |
| Chinese | 龙眼花 |
| Chinese | 圆眼 |
| Chinese | 羊眼果树 |
| Chinese | 亞荔枝 |
| Chinese | 燕卵 |
| Chinese | 福圓 |
| Chinese | 荔枝奴 |
Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Dimocarpus longan subsp. malesianus | Leenh. | Blumea 19: 126 (1971) |
Varieties (abbr. var.) Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Dimocarpus longan var. echinatus | Leenh. | Blumea 19: 128 (1971) |
| Dimocarpus longan var. longetiolatus | Leenh. | Blumea 19: 125 (1971) |
| Dimocarpus longan var. obtusus | (Pierre) Leenh. | Blumea 19(1): 126. 1971 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Africa click to expand
-
Western Indian Ocean
- Réunion
-
Western Indian Ocean
-
Asia-temperate click to expand
-
China
- China South-central
- China Southeast
- Hainan
-
Eastern Asia
- Taiwan
-
China
-
Asia-tropical click to expand
-
Indian Subcontinent
- Assam
- Bangladesh
- East Himalaya
- Sri Lanka
-
Indo-China
- Andaman Islands
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Myanmar
- Nicobar Nicobar
- Thailand
- Vietnam
-
Malesia
- Borneo
- Jawa
- Lesser Sunda Islands
- Malaya
- Maluku
- Philippines
- Sulawesi
- Sumatera
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Papuasia
- New Guinea
-
Indian Subcontinent
-
Northern America click to expand
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Florida
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Southeastern U.S.A.
-
Pacific click to expand
-
Northwestern Pacific
- Caroline Islands
- Marianas
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South-central Pacific
- Society Islands
-
Northwestern Pacific
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000647787 |
| UNII | 34Z9ZU77SE |
| Florida Plant Atlas | 4228 |
| USDA Plants | DILO7 |
| Tropicos | 28601365 |
| INPN | 447590 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:782795-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2768547 |
| Missouri Botanical Garden | 286822 |
| PFAF | Dimocarpus longan |
| Open Tree Of Life | 80783 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 128017 |
| IUCN Red List | 32399 |
| IPNI | 782795-1 |
| iNaturalist | 191503 |
| GBIF | 3190008 |
| Freebase | /m/0kh8g |
| EPPO | DMCLO |
| EOL | 590822 |
| USDA GRIN | 14131 |
| Wikipedia | Longan |
| CMAUP | NPO4124 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
Below is displayed the reference genome only!
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
| Accession | Assembly | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Level | Submitter | Released | Coverage | Size | |
| GCA_022984855.1 | ASM2298485v1 | Chromosome | Institute of Fruit Tree Research-Guangdong academy of Agricultural Sciences | 2022-04-19 | 415 | 433.25 Mb |
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Phytochemical Profile Top
Add a new one!
Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives / Gallic acid and derivatives | |||||
| 3,5-Dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzoic acid | 78016 | Click to see COC1=C(C=C(C=C1O)C(=O)O)O | 184.15 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives / Gallic acid and derivatives / Gallic acids | |||||
| Ethyl gallic acid | 21617649 | Click to see CCC1=C(C(=C(C=C1C(=O)O)O)O)O | 198.17 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.3109/09637486.2014.886181 |
| Gallic Acid | 370 | Click to see | 170.12 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives / Gallic acid and derivatives / Galloyl esters | |||||
| [(2S,3R,4S,5S,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methoxyoxan-2-yl] 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate | 71308210 | Click to see | 332.26 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Ethyl gallate | 13250 | Click to see CCOC(=O)C1=CC(=C(C(=C1)O)O)O | 198.17 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.3109/09637486.2014.886181 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Organic sulfuric acids and derivatives / Arylsulfates / Phenylsulfates | |||||
| 4-(6-Benzyl-5-{[4-(sulfooxy)phenyl]acetamido}pyrazin-2-yl)phenyl hydrogen sulfate | 5459866 | Click to see C1=CC=C(C=C1)CC2=NC(=CN=C2NC(=O)CC3=CC=C(C=C3)OS(=O)(=O)O)C4=CC=C(C=C4)OS(=O)(=O)O | 571.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzoxazines / Phenoxazines | |||||
| N-Acetylquestiomycin A | 193337 | Click to see | 254.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Questiomycin A | 72725 | Click to see C1=CC=C2C(=C1)N=C3C=C(C(=O)C=C3O2)N | 212.20 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Biflavonoids and polyflavonoids | |||||
| Proanthocyanidin B2 | 5320711 | Click to see | 578.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Procyanidin A1 | 5089889 | Click to see | 576.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF801155J |
| Procyanidin A2 | 124025 | Click to see C1C(C(OC2=C1C(=CC3=C2C4C(C(O3)(OC5=CC(=CC(=C45)O)O)C6=CC(=C(C=C6)O)O)O)O)C7=CC(=C(C=C7)O)O)O | 576.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF801155J |
| Procyanidin B2, (+)- | 122738 | Click to see C1C(C(OC2=C1C(=CC(=C2C3C(C(OC4=CC(=CC(=C34)O)O)C5=CC(=C(C=C5)O)O)O)O)O)C6=CC(=C(C=C6)O)O)O | 578.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins | |||||
| (+)-Epicatechin | 182232 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-3,5,7-triol | 1203 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF801155J |
| Epicatechin | 72276 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF801155J |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-4-oxo-4H-1-benzopyran-3-yl 6-deoxyhexopyranoside | 5353915 | Click to see | 448.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| quercetin 3-O-alpha-L-fucopyranoside | 5359430 | Click to see | 448.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside | 15939939 | Click to see | 448.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Quercitrin | 5280459 | Click to see | 448.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Tannins / Hydrolyzable tannins | |||||
| Corilagin | 73568 | Click to see | 634.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Ellagic Acid | 5281855 | Click to see | 302.19 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |