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Raspberries
Raspberries are indigenous to Asia Minor and North America, and have been a food source for centuries. The Roman agriculturist Palladius wrote about their cultivation in the 4th century. No doubt their actual history precedes this date by hundreds if not thousands of years. Ecological findings at Roman forts in Britain included raspberry seeds, which led to the assumption that Romans spread their cultivation in Europe. But King Edward I (1272-1307) was the first to call for the cultivation of these berries. Shortly thereafter, British gardens were full of raspberry bushes. By the 18th century, their cultivation had spread throughout Europe. These succulent berries were long considered a luxury, as only the rich were able to enjoy the delicate fruits. By the middle Ages, the wild berries had many uses. Artists used the juice in both paintings and illumination of manuscripts. Physicians and herbalists recommended the fruit, leaves, and roots for everything from eye inflammations, boils, and fevers, to bowel problems and even bee stings. Midwives recommended leaf teas and extracts for treating pregnancy-related problems and to prepare a woman for labor. They are a luscious fruit with a short shelf life. Lovers of the berry these days enjoy them fresh and prepared in every way imaginable, such as in baked goods, salad dressings, as a glaze for meats, and in desserts, beverages, sauces, and preserves. They are also frozen with or without added sugar. Vitamins, Minerals, and Phytochemical Components They are an excellent source of Vitamin C and manganese and are a good source of dietary fiber. They also contain Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, folate, Vitamin K, magnesium, potassium, copper, calcium, and iron. They rank near the top among fruits that are rich in antioxidant strength. These antioxidants are in the form of anthocyanins, ellagic acid, salicylic acid, quercetin, and catechins. Raspberries have an oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) rating of about 4900 per 100 grams, compared to 9000 ORAC units for wild blueberries, and 2800 ORAC units for apples (2). Medicinal Uses Based on Scientific Studies Preliminary medical research shows that their different components may be effective in a number of conditions. Their antioxidant activity is almost 50% higher than strawberries (1),(2). This protection is largely from the ellagitannins, a family of compounds reported to be effective against cancer and almost exclusive to the raspberry. The berries may slow cancer cell proliferation and tumor formation by inhibiting metalloproteinase enzymes, which when too high, play a significant role in cancer development. Saponins contained in the fruit also have remarkable inhibitory effects on the proliferation of cancer cells. Saponins inhibit malignant melanoma cells in laboratory and cell studies and exert antitumor activities by stimulating tumor cell apoptosis (3). The antioxidant capacity of the berries also protects the body against cardiovascular disease and has been shown to lower high blood cholesterol. They are often used as a treatment for diabetes. The unique combination of nutrients, including dietary fiber, helps slow the release of carbohydrates into the bloodstream. Furthermore, they inhibit the production of COX-I and COX-II, in a way similar to Aspirin and Ibuprofen, which makes the fruit helpful in treating inflammatory conditions like arthritis and gout. They are also effective for allergies and age-related cognitive and eyesight decline. References 1. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C, et al. (eds). PDR for Herbal Medicines. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics, 1998, 688–90. 2. Venskutonis PR, Dvaranauskaite A, Labokas J. (2007) Radical scavenging activity and composition of raspberry (Rubus idaeus) leaves from different locations in Lithuania. 3. Zheng ZX, Zhang LJ, Huang CX, Huang QL, Wei XD, Wu XY, Zhou WM. (2007) Antitumour effect of total saponins of Rubus parvifolius on malignant melanomaZhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. ,32(19):2055-8.
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