| Gac | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Exterior and cross-sectional interior of gac | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Cucurbitales |
| Family: | Cucurbitaceae |
| Genus: | Momordica |
| Species: | M. cochinchinensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Momordica cochinchinensis | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Gac, from the Vietnamesegấc (pronounced[ɣək˦˥]), scientific nameMomordica cochinchinensis, is a species of plant in the melon and cucumber familyCucurbitaceae which is native to countries throughoutSoutheast Asia and toQueensland, Australia. It is notable for its vivid orange-reddish color resulting from a mix ofbeta-carotene andlycopene.
Momordica cochinchinensis is aperennial tendril climber which may reach up to 15 metres (50 feet) long and a stem diameter up to four centimetres (1+1⁄2 inches).[2][3][4] Thepalmate leaves have 3 to 5 lobes and are carried on apetiole (leaf stem) measuring6–10 cm (2+1⁄2–4 in) long.[2][3][4] They are arrangedalternately on the stems and measure up to 20 cm (8 in) wide and long.[2][3][4]
This species isdioecious, meaning that male and female flowers are borne on separate plants. Theinflorescence on a male plant consists of either a solitary flower or araceme up to 10 cm (4 in) long, while female flowers are solitary.[2][3][4][5] All flower buds are fully enclosed by bracts, which split open as the flower matures.[4][6] The mature flowers have five yellowish petals and a black centre.[6]
The fruit areovoid to broadly ellipsoid, about 15 cm (6 in) long by 10 cm (4 in) diameter, and are covered with numerous small spines on the skin.[2][3][4][5][6] They are initially green but turn a deep orange/red at maturity, and they contain numerous irregularly-shaped brown or grey seeds which are enclosed in a bright redaril.[2][3][4][5][6]
In the northern hemisphere this species flowers from June to August and fruit appear around August to October.[3] In Australia, flowering occurs from December to January and fruit appear from February to April.[7]
The fruit, seeds, and seed oil contain substantial amounts of beta-carotene and lycopene which collectively impart the characteristic red-orange color to the fruit's tissues.[8][9][10][11] Both aril and seeds are rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturatedfatty acids,[12] with oil containing 69%unsaturated fats, including 35% aspolyunsaturated fats.[11] Gac has a high concentration of linoleic acid (omega-6) andomega-3 fatty acids.[12]
This species was first described in 1790 by the Portuguese botanistJoão de Loureiro, who published it in his bookFlora cochinchinensis. Loureiro gave this plant the combinationMuricia cochinchinensis and noted that it was found in "Cochinchinâ, & Chinâ."[13] In 1826 the German botanistKurt Polycarp Joachim Sprengel transferred the species to the genusMomordica.[14]
Thegenus nameMomordica is derived from the Latin wordmordeo meaning to bite, a reference to the seeds' appearance as though chewed.[7] Thespecies epithetcochinchinensis means "fromCochinchina", the region in the southern part of Vietnam where the plant was first observed by Loureiro.[7][15]
As this plant is native to many countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region, it has a diverse number of common names including:bhat kerala (Assamese),mu bie gua,mu bie zi andteng tong (Chinese), balsam pear, Chinese cucumber, and giant spiny gourd (English),kakur,kantola andkakrol (Hindi),tepurang (Indonesian),mokube tsushi (Japanese),makkao (Khmer),khaawz (Laotian),pupia,teruah andtorobuk (Malay),jhuse karelaa (Nepalese),pakurebu (Sulawesi),buyok buyok (Tagalog),phak khao (Thai), andgac (Vietnamese).[4][16][17]
As gac plant isdioecious, both male and female plants are needed; hence, farmers must have at least one corresponding male plant growing in or around the gardens for the fruit-bearing female plants to be pollinated. When grown from seed, the ratio of male to female plants is unpredictable.[18]
Pollination may be facilitated by insects, but hand pollination allows for better fruit yield. An alternative method is tograft female material onto the main shoot of a male plant.[19]
For maximum insect-aided pollination, the recommended ratio is about 1 male for every 10 female plants.[18] If propagating from vines, farmers make diagonal cut (around 15–20 cm or 6–8 in long and3–6 mm or1⁄8–1⁄4 in wide), then root the tubers in water or well-aerated, moist potting media before planting.[18]
Apart from Southeast Asian countries where the fruits are native, gac can be grown in sub-tropical climate regions.[17] Cool temperatures inhibit growth.[18]
Gac has been commonly used in its native countries, mainly as food and traditional medicine. Its use as a folk medicine dates back over centuries in China and Vietnam.[20] Gac seeds, known asmùbiēzǐ (meaning 'wooden turtle seed'), are used for a variety of internal andtopical purposes in traditional medicine.[21]
Thearil surrounding gac seeds when the fruits are ripe is cooked with sticky rice to makexôi gac, a traditional Vietnamese dish with a striking red color that is served at weddings andNew Year celebrations. In addition, the immature green fruit is eaten in some parts of India.[22] The spiny skin is removed and the fruits are sliced and cooked sometimes with potato orbottle gourd. In Sri Lanka, gac is used in curry, and in Thailand, gac is served with ice cream.[23]
Due to the high contents ofbeta-carotene andlycopene, extracts from the fruit's arils are used to manufacture dietary supplements or are sometimes mixed into food and drink as a food dye.[24][failed verification]
Media related toMomordica cochinchinensis at Wikimedia Commons