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Plant Source Foods
Published in Chuong Pham-Huy, Bruno Pham Huy, Food and Lifestyle in Health and Disease, 2022
Chuong Pham-Huy, Bruno Pham Huy
Gac fruit (Momordica cochinchinensis), of the Cucurbitaceae family – also known as Cochinchin gourd, baby jackfruit, and spiny bitter gourd – is a bright orange spikey fruit found in Southeast Asia – mostly in Vietnam, hence its name (147). The fruit is ovoid and usually large (10–13 cm). It is orangey-red when ripe, with spines on the outside, red fleshy pulp, and black flat seeds inside. Gac is often eaten cooked with other vegetables or rice and has a mild taste. Gac fruit is reputed to be an exceptional source of phytochemicals. Nutritionally, gac contains extraordinarily elevated levels of carotenoids (particularly β-Carotene, lycopene, and lutein), α-tocopherol, and essential fatty acids available in all parts of the fruit (i.e., peel, pulp, aril, and seeds). Both carotenoids (lycopene and β-Carotene) from gac fruit were found to be at least eight times higher than the carotenoids found in carrot root and tomato fruit (147). The concentrations of phenolics and flavonoids found in gac fruit were also high and found about 26.08 and 1.32 mg/100 g, respectively (147). Unsaturated fatty acids in gac fruit were found to be relatively high. Oleic, palmitic, and linoleic acids were found to be predominant in gac aril (32.3%, 29.2%, and 28.1% respectively), while the predominant fatty acid found in gac seed was stearic acid (60.5%) with small levels of linoleic (20.3%), oleic (9%), and palmitic acids (5.6%) (147). Additionally, gac oil after being extracted from the aril has also been traditionally used as a tonic and given to lactating or pregnant women. It is also given to children to treat xerophthalmia (dry eyes) and night-blindness. In Chinese medicine, the gac seed has been used to treat inflammation, swelling, scrofula, tinea, diarrhea, and skin infections such as sores, carbuncles, furuncles, and boils in humans and animals (147). The entire potentiality surrounding the health benefits of gac fruit is not well-known. Several parts of the gac fruit such as the skin, the outer rind, and the seeds, are toxic and inedible. Only the cooked red pulp is edible and very healthy. More research is needed for this promising plant.
Amelioration effects of the soybean lecithin–gallic acid complex on iron-overload-induced oxidative stress and liver damage in C57BL/6J mice
Published in Pharmaceutical Biology, 2023
Caihong Wu, Wenxin Zhang, Feifei Yan, Wenwen Dai, Fang Fang, Yanli Gao, Weiwei Cui
For the determination of antioxidant capacity of SL-GAC in vitro, DPPH, ABTS and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities, linoleic acid autoxidation inhibition capacity and Fe3+ reduction capacity were used. As shown in Figure 1A and B, SL-GAC was identified as the potent antioxidant against DPPH and ABTS with IC50 values of 24.92 ± 0.46 µg/mL and 128.36 ± 6.57 µg/mL, respectively compared to vitamin C (IC50 = 44.78 ± 0.62 μg/mL and 114.30 ± 0.61 µg/mL). In addition, scavenging activity of SL-GAC on Fenton hydroxyl radicals increased with increase in the concentration of SL-GAC. Excitedly, the ability of SL-GAC to scavenge hydroxyl radicals in Fenton reaction were stronger than those of vitamin C at the same concentrations (Figure 1C). Moreover, the results of inhibition of linoleic acid autoxidation showed that the percentage of inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation by the SL-GAC was comparable with that of vitamin C during the 14 d of experiment and significantly prolonged the induction period of autoxidation as compared to control (Figure 1D). Furthermore, Furthermore, the reducing capacity of Fe3+ showed an accelerating trend with increased concentrations of SL-GAC (Figure 1E). The results, therefore, indicated that SL-GAC appeared to possess potent antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging ability in vitro.
Pharmaceutical advances in the treatment of gastric adenocarcinoma
Published in Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy, 2022
Jane E. Rogers, Matheus Sewastjanow D Silva, Rebecca E. Waters, Jaffer A. Ajani
Gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) continues to represent a large global healthcare burden. Worldwide, GAC is the fifth most frequently diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death [1]. Endemic regions represent countries of Asia (particularly, China and Japan contributing 617,000 new cases per year out of more than 1 million new cases) [2]. The incidence is highest in Korea and Japan, but also GAC is common in Peru, Chile, Central America, and Brazil. However, GAC incidence is declining globally and in Western countries, the incidence has declined over recent decades likely because of improved food preservation/diet, and hygiene along with the recognition and eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections [1]. A lower incidence is seen in Western countries, but GAC often carries a poor prognosis as the diagnosis is often when patients have significant symptoms. It is not feasible to implement an early detection strategy in the West until a reliable liquid biopsy platform is established.
Palliative care for advanced gastric cancer
Published in Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy, 2020
Kazuto Harada, Meina Zhao, Namita Shanbhag, Hideo Baba, Jaffer a Ajani
Common initial symptoms of GAC are early satiety, nausea, vomiting, fatigue (anemia), pain, and weight loss. Anemia occurs due to chronic or active bleeding from GAC. An analysis of patients being treated in the second-line setting showed that most prominent symptoms included fatigue, pain, and loss of appetite [10]. Moreover, it showed that, when systematic therapy was active, it improved the quality of life, especially emotional functioning, pain, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting [10]. Even after the third line therapy, systemic therapy could improve Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) [11]. Large primary GAC can cause malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) or severe bleeding. To manage GOO or bleeding, multidisciplinary tools, such as endoscopy, surgery, and/or radiotherapy, are needed.