Raspberry plants (Rubus idaeus) offer numerous potential health benefits, including antioxidant effects, heart health support, digestive support, and potential benefits for women's health.
The raspberry plant is a woody perennial shrub belonging to the Rosaceae family. It typically has thorny stems and palmately compound leaves with three to five leaflets. Raspberry plants produce delicious, red or black aggregate fruits that are commonly consumed fresh or used in various culinary applications.
Red raspberries are native to North America. They grow profusely in nature, especially in the northwestern U.S. During the winter months they will lay bare. But when spring comes, they will spout hairy leaves that can be harvested as herbs.
Native Regions: Red raspberries are native to Europe and Asia, while black raspberries are native to North America.
Growth Conditions: Raspberry plants prefer well-drained soil and are often found in temperate regions, including forests, fields, and along roadsides.
Primary Compounds
Red raspberry leaves – notably from the Meeker variety – are one of the few plants that contain an anti-carcinogenic substance called ellagitannins. As the ellagitannins are absorbed, the tannins are released, which releases highly absorbed ellagic acid. Other findings have confirmed anticancer research involving ellagic acid. Ellagic acid cleanses cells of oxidative radicals, and stimulates a cell death switch in cancer cells.
Red raspberries and their leaves also contain flavanols. Other research has confirmed that flavanols help prevent colon cancer. Flavanols include anthocyanins. These help give raspberries their red color. Anthocyanins have been shown to be incredibly antioxidant as well as heart healthy. Anthocyanins also help the eyes due to their antioxidant abilities.
Dietary Fiber: Raspberries are a good source of dietary fiber, particularly soluble fiber like pectin.
Vitamins and Minerals: They contain vitamins C, K, and E, as well as minerals like manganese and potassium.
Traditional Uses
Raspberry plants have been used in traditional medicine around the world for various purposes:
1. Digestive Health: Raspberry leaves have been used traditionally to support digestive function and alleviate symptoms of diarrhea and gastrointestinal discomfort.
2. Women's Health: Raspberry leaf tea is a popular remedy in herbal traditions for supporting women's health, particularly during pregnancy and childbirth. It is believed to strengthen the uterus and ease labor pains.
3. Anti-inflammatory: Raspberries and raspberry leaves are valued for their anti-inflammatory properties, which may benefit conditions like arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
4. Oral Health: Raspberry leaf tea has been used as a mouthwash or gargle to soothe sore throats and mouth ulcers.
Health Benefits
Raspberry plants offer several potential health benefits, supported by traditional use and scientific research:
1. Antioxidant Effects: The antioxidants in raspberries help neutralize harmful free radicals, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in the body.
2. Heart Health: The dietary fiber, antioxidants, and flavonoids in raspberries may help lower cholesterol levels, improve blood vessel function, and reduce the risk of heart disease.
3. Digestive Support: Raspberry leaf tea and raspberry fruit may aid digestion and promote bowel regularity due to their fiber content.
4. Women's Health: Raspberry leaf tea is commonly used to support women's health during pregnancy and childbirth, although more research is needed to confirm its efficacy.
5. Anti-inflammatory Properties: Compounds in raspberry plants have shown anti-inflammatory effects in preclinical studies, suggesting potential benefits for inflammatory conditions.
Human Clinical Research
Numerous clinical studies have investigated the health effects of raspberries and raspberry leaf tea:
One study evaluated the effects of raspberry ketone supplementation on body composition and metabolic parameters in overweight and obese individuals, showing potential benefits for fat loss and metabolic rate.
A randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of raspberry leaf tea on primary dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain), suggesting potential benefits for reducing pain intensity and duration.
Multiple studies have assessed the effects of dietary red raspberry consumption on diabetes and metabolic syndrome in adults. Red raspberries (RR) contain various phytonutrients with potential for modulating insulin function, glucose, and lipid metabolism. Results have also showed improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and inflammation markers.
Researchers from Coatia’s University of Zagreb determined that red raspberry leaves contain bioactive substances that kill colon cancer cells and produce significant antioxidant potential that helps prevent throat cancer.
The researchers tested raspberry leaves against human cancer cell lines for laryngeal carcinoma (throat cancer) and colon adenocarcinoma (colorectal cancer). They found that the raspberry leaves had a significant cytotoxic (cancer cell-killing) effect upon the colon cancer cells, and a “chemoprotective” antioxidant effect against throat cancer cells.
They analyzed the leaves and found them rich in a variety of polyphenols and antioxidants. To test their relative antioxidant effects, they treated the cells with hydrogen peroxide.
Leaves uses
Raspberry leaves can be dried and used as a dehydrated herb. Or they can be steeped in tea. Be sure to filter the tea well to prevent the stickers from getting in. One of the best forms of the leaves is the extract. Raspberry leaf extract is available in some retail outlets.
REFERENCES:
Durgo K, Belščak-Cvitanović A, Stančić A, Franekić J, Komes D. The Bioactive Potential of Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) Leaves in Exhibiting Cytotoxic and Cytoprotective Activity on Human Laryngeal Carcinoma and Colon Adenocarcinoma. J Med Food. 2012 Mar;15(3):258-68.
Beekwilder J, Hall RD, de Vos CH. Identification and dietary relevance of antioxidants from raspberry. Biofactors. 2005;23(4):197-205.
Burton-Freeman BM, Sandhu AK, Edirisinghe I. Red Raspberries and Their Bioactive Polyphenols: Cardiometabolic and Neuronal Health Links. Adv Nutr. 2016 Jan 15;7(1):44-65. doi: 10.3945/an.115.009639.
Bibi S, Kang Y, Du M, Zhu MJ. Dietary red raspberries attenuate dextran sulfate sodium-induced acute colitis. J Nutr Biochem. 2018 Jan;51:40-46. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2017.08.017.
