Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng
Gac,
the richest source of anti-cancer lycopene
Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng.,
commonly known as
Gac, is a climber endemic to Southeast Asia (Southern China to Northeastern Australia, mostly Vietnam),
the fruit of which is the richest source of lycopene i.e. 2,000 μg/g fresh weight.
The fruit contains by far the highest content of beta-carotene (vitamin A) of any known fruit or vegetable.
Typically, gấc fruits are round or oblong, about 13 centimetres (5 in) in length and 10 centimetres (4 in) in diameter, covered with small spines on the exocarp. Upon ripening, gấc gradually changes colors, from green to yellow, orange and finally red when it can be harvested.
At this time, the fruit is hard, but turns soft quickly, creating a challenge for storage and transportation.
Gấc fruit has a mild taste and dense flesh.
The inside of a gấc fruit comprises two parts: fruit (yellow) and seed membrane (red color).
Larger fruits have a higher percentage of edible aril than smaller fruits. Both aril and seeds are rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids with oil containing 69% unsaturated fats, including 35% as omega fats.
Gac has a high concentration of linoleic acid (omega-6)) and omega 3- fatty acids.
In Viet Nam, the bright red seed pulp (aril) of the ripe fruit is widely used as a rice colorant due to its intense red color.
Due to the oil content of the seeds the fat-soluble nutrients, including carotenoids, are easily absorbed.
The water extract of M. cochinchinensis aril caused significant apoptosis and necrosis of breast cancer and melanoma cells, with varieties from Northern Vietnam possessing superior activity.
References
Wickipedia and Google searches.
Mammen Daniel