Fatty Acid and Carotenoid Composition of Gac (Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng) Fruit

Abstract

In this study, we analyzed fatty acid and carotenoid composition of fruit tissues, including seed (which are surrounded by a bright red, oily aril) of Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng, known as gac in Vietnam. Carotenoid content was analyzed by reversed-phase HPLC, using a C(30) column and a method separating cis- and trans-isomers of the major carotenoids in this fruit. Mean values obtained in aril tissues were 1342 microg trans-, 204 microg cis-, and 2227 microg total lycopene; 597 microg trans-, 39 microg cis-, and 718 microg total beta-carotene; and 107 microg alpha-carotene/g FW. Mesocarp contained 11 microg trans-, 5 microg cis-beta-carotene/g FW, trace amounts of alpha-carotene, and no lycopene. Gac aril contained 22% fatty acids by weight, composed of 32% oleic, 29% palmitic, and 28% linoleic acids. Seeds contained primarily stearic acid (60.5%), smaller amounts of linoleic (20%), oleic (9%), and palmitic (5-6%) acids, and trace amounts of arachidic, cis-vaccenic, linolenic, and palmitoleic, eicosa-11-enoic acids, and eicosa-13-enoic (in one fruit only) acids.

A comprehensive review on the colorless carotenoids phytoene and phytofluene

“…Apart from these foods, the presence of colorless carotenoids has been described in palm oil [108,109], gac [110], yellow passion fruit [99], loquats [95], citrus mutants [111][112][113][114], buriti, mamey, marimari, and physalis [94], among others.…”

Momordica cochinchinensis Seed Extracts Suppress Migration and Invasion of Human Breast Cancer ZR-75-30 Cells Via Down-regulating MMP-2 and MMP-9

“…Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng., a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, has been highly valued for its nutritional and medicinal qualities and wide range of adaptability. It has been used as an indigenous food and traditional medicine throughout East and Southeast Asia for a long time (Ishida et al, 2004;Tsoi et al, 2006;Sanwal et al, 2011;Parks et al, 2012). As a medicinal plant, the seeds of the fruit, used as traditional Chinese medicine (Mubiezi in Chinese, Figure 1 A), have anti-cancer actions (Wong et al, 2004;Kubola and Siriamornpun, 2011;Lin et al, 2012).…”

Antioxidant and Hypoglycemic Effects of Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng: (Gac) Aril Extract on Reproductive Damages in Streptozotocin (STZ)-Induced Hyperglycemia Mice

“…cochinchinensis Spreng (gac) is a tropical plant found in many countries including Thailand. This plant was identified to have various phytochemical components (Ishida et al, 2004;Kubola & Siriamornpun, 2011). These fruits have been reported to have antioxidant activity (Kubola & Siriamornpun), anti-inflammatory effect (Jung et al, 2013), immunomodulatory activity (Tsoi et al, 2006), antitumor properties (Chuethong et al, 2007), anti-cancer activity (Zheng et al, 2014;Petchsak & Sripanidkulchai, 2015).…”