Other Names of Luo Han Guo: Siraitiagrosvenorii; Momordicagrosvenorii; arhat Siraitia grosvenorii, Momordica grosvenorii, Arhat fruit; , Buddha fruit; , monk fruit; luohankuo; lohoguoIt grows mainly in luo han kuo, lo ho guo<br>Siraitia grosvenorii is a herbaceous perennial vine of the Cucurbitaceae (gourd) family, native to southern China and northern Thailand. The plant is valued mainly for its fruit which has also been known as the ‘longevity fruit’. The fruit has been used to cool drinks and in Chinese medicine. It is round and smooth and can be yellowish-brown or greenish brown in color. It contains a sweet, fleshy edible pulp. Useful Parts of the Plant: Fruit. The fruit extract is used as a sweetener, since this is known to be almost 300 times sweeter as compared to sugar. It has been used for centuries by the Chinese as a low calorie sweetener to treat obesity and diabetes.
Nutritional Information and Properties of Luo Han Guo : Luohanguo contains a group of compounds known as mogrosides. These compounds, along with glucose and fructose, are responsible for the intense sweetness of the fruit. They are estimated to be about 150 to 300 times sweeter than sucrose. This has made the luohanguo extract popular as a low calorie sweetener.