the fruits are native, gac can be grown in sub-tropical climate regions. Cool temperatures inhibit growth. Uses has been commonly used in its native countries, mainly as food and traditional medicine. Its use as medicine has been dated back to over 1200 years ago in China and Vietnam. seeds, known as (meaning 'wooden turtle seed'), are used for a variety of internal and topical purposes in traditional medicine. The aril surrounding seeds when the fruits are ripe is cooked with sticky rice to make , 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, is used in curry, and in Thailand, 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. Composition Gac 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. References External links Dietary supplements Dioecious plants Edible fruits Medicinal plants of Asia Medicinal plants of Oceania Momordica Plants used in traditional Chinese medicine