Gac Fruit: Advances in Cultivation, Utilisation, Health Benefits and Processing Technologies

Gac fruit, Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng, is rich in nutrients such as carotenoids, fatty acids, vitamin E, polyphenol compounds, and flavonoids. This book provides the latest research on this fruit, including cultivation techniques, extraction methods, and applications in food products. It also highlights the potential of the fruit as a high-value crop and discusses the market for Gac target products.

Format: Hardback
Publication date: 12 August 2022
Publisher: CABI Publishing

The Gac fruit,Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng, is a nutritional powerhouse packed with an array of essential nutrients. These include carotenoids, such as ß-carotene and lycopene, fatty acids, vitamin E, polyphenol compounds, and flavonoids. This comprehensive book delves into the latest research on this fruit, encompassing its cultivation, novel processing technologies, and techniques for enhancing production and quality. It explores various propagation and cultivation methods, including utilizing traditionally underutilized parts of the fruit, such as the aril (the outer layer), peel, pulp, and seeds.

The potential of the Gac fruit as a high-value crop is evident, particularly given its ability to be processed into nutrient supplements and natural colorants. Currently, only the aril is commercially harvested, presenting opportunities for upcycling the remaining fruit. This book places significant emphasis on improving yield and fruit quality, extracting Gac oil rich in ß-carotene and lycopene from the aril and peel, encapsulating Gac oil for use in various food products, examining the nutritional values and bioactive compounds of Gac pulp and peel, processing and utilizing Gac seeds, and exploring the market for Gac target products.

Furthermore, practical applied technologies such as microwave drying, heat pump drying, freeze drying, ultrasound-assisted extraction, supercritical CO2 extraction, and encapsulation techniques are presented in detail. This book serves as an invaluable reference text for academics, researchers, graduate students, and product developers in the fields of Gac fruit cultivation, food processing, science, and nutrition. It provides valuable insights and practical knowledge for those seeking to harness the potential of this remarkable fruit for health and wellness purposes.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789247299