Karthik Chintharala¹*, Amritaa Rukmini Thalla²

¹NRI Academy of Medical Sciences, Guntur, India
²Maheshwara Medical College and Hospital, Telangana, India

*Corresponding Author: Karthik Chintharala, NRI Academy of Medical Sciences, Guntur, India.

Received: January 27, 2026; Published: July 07, 2026

Abstract

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by amyloid-β deposition, tau hyperphosphorylation, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, chronic neuroinflammation, synaptic degeneration, and neuronal loss. Although currently available therapies, including acetylcholinesterase inhibitors such as donepezil, NMDA receptor antagonists such as memantine, and anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies such as donanemab and lecanemab, provide symptomatic or modest disease-modifying benefits, their overall clinical impact remains limited. These limitations have increased interest in naturally derived compounds capable of targeting multiple neuropathological pathways implicated in Alzheimer’s disease. Among these, Litchi chinensis has emerged as a rich source of bioactive phytochemicals with potential neuroprotective properties.

Review Focus: A comprehensive review of the available literature was conducted to evaluate the neuroprotective potential of Litchi chinensis and its phytoconstituents in Alzheimer’s disease. Experimental studies investigating the effects of lychee-derived compounds on amyloid pathology, tau dysfunction, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, apoptosis, synaptic impairment, and neuronal survival were critically synthesized.

Key Findings: Preclinical studies suggest that Litchi chinensis-derived compounds, including catechins, procyanidins, flavanols, saponins, and oligonol, exert neuroprotective effects through multiple complementary mechanisms. These phytochemicals have been reported to reduce amyloidogenic processing by modulating amyloid precursor protein and β-secretase activity, suppress tau hyperphosphorylation through regulation of the IRS-1/PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway, attenuate oxidative stress by enhancing endogenous antioxidant defences, and inhibit neuroinflammatory responses involving NF-κB and NLRP3 signaling. Additional reported effects include modulation of apoptotic pathways, preservation of synaptic proteins and blood–brain barrier integrity, enhancement of autophagy, and regulation of neurotrophic and metabolic signaling pathways associated with neuronal survival and cognitive function.

Future Perspectives: Current preclinical evidence suggests that Litchi chinensis and its bioactive constituents warrant further investigation as potential adjunctive therapeutic candidates for Alzheimer’s disease. However, clinical translation remains limited, and additional studies are required to establish standardized formulations, characterize pharmacokinetic properties, evaluate long- term safety, and determine therapeutic efficacy in human populations.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s Disease; Litchi chinensis; Lychee; Oligonol; Polyphenols; Amyloid-Β; Tau; Neuroinflammation; Oxidative Stress; Neuroprotection

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Citation

Citation: Karthik Chintharala and Amritaa Rukmini Thalla. “From Lychee to Neurotherapeutics: Mechanistic, Gut–Brain, and Translational Perspectives on Litchi chinensis in Alzheimer’s Disease". Acta Scientific Neurology 9.7 (2026): 33-41.

Copyright

Copyright: ©2026 Karthik Chintharala and Amritaa Rukmini Thalla. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.