VietNamNet Bridge - Gac fruit (Momordica cochinchinensis) contains substances which can kill 85-90 percent of cancer cells, especially skin and breast cancer, according to a researcher. Gac fruit grown in the central and northern regions of Vietnam have the best cancer treatment elements.


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The natural compounds in gac fruit are beneficial for health



These are the findings of Dr Tien Huynh, lecturer at RMIT Melbourne University who has done thorough research about gac, which is used to make gac glutinous rice and other meals.

Huynh found that the natural compounds in gac fruit are particularly beneficial for health, especially in the treatment of cancer.

Gac fruit has beta carotene content 54 times higher than carrots and lycopene 200 times higher than tomatoes. 

Gac in Vietnam has high nutritional content, powerful anti-cancer activity and the most diverse benefits, especially in the Central and Northern regions where there are fruits weighing up to 4 kilograms.

"I want to use scientific evidence to prove the benefits of gac, so that people can use this natural product in their daily diet, as it is a fruit from Vietnam, easy to grow and easy to use,"- Tien said.

The professor analyzed the gac fruits grown in 18 provinces in Vietnam, four provinces in Thailand and three in Sri Lanka and found that the fruits in Vietnam are the best.

Gac in Vietnam has high nutritional content, powerful anti-cancer activity and the most diverse benefits, especially in the Central and Northern regions where there are fruits weighing up to 4 kilograms.

Tien said once gac’s great benefits to human’s health can be proven, Vietnam can improve the cultivation process to protect the environment, save time and help increase farmers’ income.

Nguyen Cong Kha, director of the An Giang Biology Center, said the research had high applicability.

Besides research on gac fruit, Tien also carries out research on cancer, tissue regeneration, and pharmacologic neurology, and develops new drugs.

Dr Tien also spends her time on giving advice to female Asian students and lecturers, inspiring them in study and scientific research. She also presides over working programs overseas.

During her return to Vietnam recently, Tien and a team of students carried out research on the benefits of cocoa, coffee and chum ngay (Moringa oleifera) for wound treatment, brain health and cancer treatment.

Dr Tien Huynh was the only Vietnamese-born female doctor honored as one of 30 "Superstars of STEM" (Superstar in the field of education STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) by the Organization of Science and Technology Australian Technology in August, 2017.


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