Abstract: In order to evaluate the nutritional value of litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.), amino acid compositions of five kinds of litchi juice of Feizixiao from major production regions such as Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, and Fujian province in China were analyzed by using an automatic amino acid analyzer. The results showed that litchi juice was rich in amino acid components. The total content of amino acids in samples from Qinzhou in Guangxi province was the highest, which was up to 455.42 mg/100 mL; in contrast, the total content of amino acids in samples from Yangxi of Guangdong province was the lowest, which was 341.51 mg/100 mL. The average content of total amino acids in five juice samples was 396.38 mg/100 mL. Theγ-amino-n-butyric acid (GABA) and alanine were the major amino acids with an average content of 104.69 mg/100 mL for GABA and 67.37 mg/100 mL for alanine. Based on the analysis of GABA content in litchi juice, litchi is a potential material for the development of GABA-rich functional food products.

Key words: litchi, Feizixiao, amino acid, γ-amino-n-butyric acid (GABA)