Longan

botanical

Best in the evening

What is it

Longan (Dimocarpus longan, formerly Euphoria longana) is a tropical fruit related to lychee, native to South and Southeast Asia. The dried fruit (long yan rou) is used in traditional Chinese medicine as a tonic for blood, heart, and spleen, often in formulas for insomnia and palpitation.

Evidence for 2 uses

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Antioxidant intake

Limited Evidence

Polyphenol content provides modest antioxidant capacity, especially from peel and seed extracts. Health effects in humans are not well quantified.

Sleep and palpitation (traditional)

Mixed Evidence

Used in TCM for insomnia and palpitations. Modern clinical evidence is limited.

How it works

Longan fruit contains polyphenols, polysaccharides, ellagic acid, gallic acid, and minor alkaloids. Animal studies suggest antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and mild sedative effects. The peel and seed (different parts) contain higher concentrations of polyphenols than the flesh. Human evidence is limited.

Dosage

Dried longan aril: 9 to 15 grams per day in TCM decoctions. Fresh fruit: eaten as food.

When and how to take it

Traditionally taken in the evening for insomnia formulas. As a food, eaten any time.

2 commercial forms

Dried longan aril (long yan rou)

Whole-food form.

Sweet dried fruit used in cooking and tea.

Longan peel/seed extract

Concentrated polyphenols.

Higher polyphenol content than the flesh; used in supplements.

Safety

Fresh fruit and dried aril are well tolerated as food. High sugar content in dried form should be considered. Allergic reactions can occur, similar to other fruits.

Who should be cautious

Diabetics should account for high sugar content in dried longan. Avoid during fevers in TCM theory (considered 'warming'). Allergic reactions possible.

Interactions

No major drug interactions documented. Theoretical additive sedation with hypnotics.

Food sources

Food	Amount	%DV
Fresh longan fruit	100 g	—
Dried longan	30 g	—

Frequently asked questions

Is longan the same as lychee?⌄

They are closely related (same family, Sapindaceae) but different species. Longan is smaller and less aromatic.

Does longan help sleep?⌄

Traditional Chinese formulas use it for insomnia. Modern clinical evidence is limited.

References

Longan on Wikidata — Wikidata link
Longan on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link
Research on Longan (PubMed search) — PubMed link

Track Longan with Pilora

Set up dose reminders, check interactions, and join the community in the Pilora iPhone app.

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.