GAC FRUIT OIL

Plant Descriptions:

Gac, from the Vietnamese Gấc, scientific name Momordica cochinchinensis, is a species of plant in the melon and cucumber family Cucurbitaceae which is native to Vietnam & throughout Southeast Asia. It is notable for its vivid orange-reddish color resulting from its rich content of beta-carotene and lycopene.

Momordica cochinchinensis is a perennial tendril climber which may reach up to 15 m long and a stem diameter up to 4 cm. The palmate leaves have 3 to 5 lobes and are carried on a petiole (leaf stem) measuring 6 to 10 cm. They are arranged alternately on the stems and measure up to 20 cm wide and long. 

This species is dioecious, meaning that male and female flowers are borne on separate plants. The inflorescence on a male plant consists of either a solitary flower or a raceme up to 10 cm long, while female flowers are solitary. 

The fruit are ovoid to broadly ellipsoid, about 15 cm long by 10 cm diameter, and are covered with numerous small spines on the skin. 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 red aril.

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. Both aril and seeds are rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids with oil containing 69% unsaturated fats, including 35% as polyunsaturated fats. Gac has a high concentration of linoleic acid (omega-6) and omega-3 fatty acids.

Uses

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. Gac seeds are used for a variety of internal and topical purposes in traditional medicine.

The aril surrounding gac seeds when the fruits are ripe is cooked with sticky rice to make xôi gac, a traditional Vietnamese dish in red color served at weddings and New Year celebrations. In addition, the immature green fruit is also used as a vegetable in India. The spiny skin is removed and the fruits are sliced and cooked sometimes with potato or bottle gourd. In Sri Lanka, gac is used in curry, and in Thailand, gac is served with ice cream.

Due to the high contents of beta-carotene and lycopene, extracts from the fruit’s arils are used to manufacture dietary supplements in soft capsules or are sometimes mixed into beverages.

Momordica oil both supplies and delivers to the body of the high natural levels of antioxidants. Momordica is an natural source of beta-carotene, lycopene, and long-chain fatty acids, and the fat in the fruit pulp is essential for the absorption of those fat soluble nutrients. 

Gac Fruit Oil Properties

Appearance: Clear, Mobile Liquid
Colour: Red – Brown
Specific gravity at 20℃: 0.900 – 0.930
Refractive Index at 20℃: 1.465 – 1.480
Main components:
Lycopene ≥ 0,2% (w/w)
Beta carotene ≥ 0,1% (w/w)

Benefits of Gac Oil

High in Vitamin A

Also known as baby jackfruit and sweet gourd, the bright red spiny fruit about the size of a cantaloupe is bursting with powerful antioxidants such as beta carotene and lycopene to boost the immune system and slow down the symptoms of aging. Gấc fruit oil is especially rich in vitamin A and is used in Vietnam to overcome diseases spurred on by a deficiency in the diet of the vitamin.

Vitamin A deficiency can have a serious impact on our health:

1. Night blindness and blindness

2. Inability for the body to fight infections 

3. Unhealthy pregnancy and lactation

4. Deceased rate of growth

5. Retarded bone development

6. Lower survival rate after serious illnesses

7. Dry skin, dry hair and broken fingernails

Our bodies do not naturally produce vitamin A so the only way we can get it is though our diet. Gac fruit  oil is a major source of the vitamin.

High in Vitamin E

Momordica oil is rich in other free radical scavengers that put a stop to the damage to the skin that makes it look old and wrinkled. Xeoxanthins and alpha-tocopherol are free radicals and forms of vitamin E contained in the oil. Anti-aging creams are typically saturated with vitamins A and E to prevent the destruction of skin cells that makes it age. The oil from the Momordica fruit is highly prized for its ability to promote youthful, glowing skin. It is the reason Southeast Asian women have beautiful, vibrant skin.

Use Natural Products for Younger Looking Skin

Using natural products for rejuvenating the skin and maintaining a healthy, youthful appearance is a growing trend among celebrities and super models. Natural health is reflected by the skin and is fast becoming preferable over harsh chemical treatments and costly cosmetic surgery. Hollywood celebs are trying to avoid the “frozen” face look that comes with repeated cosmetic surgeries. Momordica oil offers a concentrated, nutrient-rich solution to support glowing, youthful looking skin.