Raspberry - Rubus idaeus

Common Names: raspberry, red raspberry, European raspberry, Framboise, Framboisier, Rubus idaeus, Rubus, frambuesa, frambuesco, adi moruq, llwyn mafon, almindelig hindbær, lampone, tusemi, paprastoji avieté, málna, framboos, himbeere, malina właściwa, malinjak, vaarain, vaapukka, vattu, hallon, franboler, Rubus Idaeus

Latin Name: Rubus idaeus

Origin: Asia, Europe, North America

Short Introduction

Raspberries are best planted early in the spring, although they can be established any time during the summer. Spring-planted raspberries tend to thrive better and may produce fruit as soon as the first summer. Dig a hole about 30 cm deep and wide for planting. For fertilizing, mulching or using well-rotted manure (compost, mushroom-based, or organic) is recommended, and with sufficient moisture, plant so all roots are covered. Add more soil only lightly so the plant can easily grow and spread. Bare-root plants can be soaked in a vitamin B1 solution for up to 6 hours before planting, which encourages growth. Nitrogen-based fertilizers are recommended as regular feed, and this can help the plant reach up to 2 meters in height.

Raspberry plants prefer slightly acidic, well-drained, fertile soils with regular moisture. However, as the harvest approaches, nitrogen fertilizers should be discontinued so the plant can focus on fruit production. Plants should receive adequate, consistent watering, but should not be allowed to dry out; however, dryness is tolerated better in winter. Raspberry is generally resistant to most pests and diseases, making it a low-maintenance crop that typically does not require chemical treatments.

Detailed Description

Raspberry is a beloved and widely recognized plant with many health-supporting benefits.

Botanical Information

Raspberry plants (Rubus idaeus) are perennial shrubs that produce biennial stems, which grow from a perennial root system. In the first year, a new, unbranched cane grows energetically to a height of 1.5–2.5 meters, featuring large, lanceolate leaves composed of 5 to 7 leaflets and typically not bearing flowers. In the second year, a shorter, more branched cane develops, producing clusters of small flowers (each about 1 cm in diameter) at the ends of secondary branches in late spring. The edible, red fruits, with a sweet-tart flavor, develop in late summer or early autumn. Botanically, these are not true berries but compound clusters of numerous drupelets.

Origin and Distribution

Raspberry originates from Europe and northern Asia in regions with temperate climates, while related wild species grow in North America. Today, raspberries are widely cultivated in various temperate regions, with the greatest production in Eastern Europe (Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, etc.). Wild raspberries typically form dense thickets in forests, especially under tree cover. In southern Europe and central Asia, raspberries often occur at higher elevations than in other temperate regions.

Usage / Dosage

Raspberries are enjoyed fresh or processed into jams, jellies, sauces, preserves, pies, tarts, cakes, desserts, cookies, tartlets, macarons, and cheesecakes. The Latin name Idaeus derives from Mount Ida near Troy in northwest Turkey, named by the ancient Greeks. Herbal records mention raspberry usage dating back to the 6th century AD. In 1597, raspberry leaves were first documented in the herbal "Herball" and "General History of Plants." Folkloric and traditional uses of raspberry remain diverse and widespread today.

Raspberry is most often cited in herbal medicine for its application in menstrual issues, gastrointestinal complaints, during childbirth, and for various problems related to pregnancy. Its therapeutic and folkloric uses are detailed in professional handbooks, pharmacopoeias, and scientific publications (e.g., Burn & Withell 1941, British Pharmaceutical Codex, Pharmacopoeia, Becket 1954, Wichtl 1984 & 2004, Reynolds 1989, Gruenwald 1998, Johnson & Mcfarlin 1999, Duke 2002, Royas 2002, Tiran 2003, Hall 2011), as well as studies on its chemical composition (e.g., Zafrilla 2001, Aprea 2015, Klewicka 2016, among others).

Raspberry's active compounds exhibit antioxidant properties. Studies suggest a mild effect in treating and destroying cancer cells of the stomach and colon. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of raspberry compounds have been investigated in vitro against several types of cancer (breast, prostate, esophagus, etc.), with promising results indicating induction of controlled cell death via tumor suppressor protein p53 activation. Furthermore, some compounds appear to protect healthy cells, contributing to the preventive anticancer effect, likely through modulation of the intracellular nuclear factor kappa B complex.

High concentrations of flavonoids (rutin, quercetin, isoquercetin, kaempferol) from various parts of the raspberry plant have demonstrated antioxidant effects in multiple in vitro studies. Further research using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity method confirmed a high antioxidant value in freshly macerated raspberry extracts, with potency decreasing over time.

Another study tested the antioxidant and cytotoxic effects of the polyphenolic profile of aqueous raspberry extracts. These compounds, tested against laryngeal carcinoma and colon adenocarcinoma cells, showed a greater effect against colon adenocarcinoma, both with cytotoxic outcomes. Additional future studies may further clarify raspberry's anticancer potential. Other identified compounds show antioxidant, metabolic, and anti-inflammatory benefits, supporting potential use in reducing metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and Alzheimer's disease. Regular fruit and vegetable consumption is generally recommended for optimal diet and prevention or delay of chronic diseases.

Raspberry fruits contain compounds capable of relaxing vascular smooth muscle in vitro, thereby supporting labor (as demonstrated in about seven studies). This hypothesis is supported for especially challenging or high-risk labors. In nine publications, compounds from various raspberry parts are mentioned for their therapeutic role in painful menstruation (dysmenorrhea).

Aqueous raspberry extracts also exhibited a notable effect on the regular uterine muscle rhythm and produced fewer contractions than controls in pregnant rats. Another study found these extracts could trigger contractions in both pregnant and non-pregnant rats. Tests in guinea pigs revealed a relaxant effect on various types of smooth muscles.

Decoctions from raspberry leaves and other parts are also used as mouthwashes, with around 10 studies describing their astringent (and partially antibacterial) effect, making them potential gargles for oral inflammation. In "Herbal Medicines, a Guide for Health-Care Professionals" (C.A. Newhall, 1996), a antidiarrheal benefit is mentioned for the astringent compounds in raspberry when used in both single and repeated doses.

Raspberry ketone (rheosmin) is found in raspberries and can increase metabolism by supporting enzymatic activity, oxygen consumption, and heat production in certain fat cells. Speeding up fat cell metabolism could reduce fat storage and increase the use of stored fat. Improved fat metabolism may help lower pro-inflammatory cytokines produced in fatty tissue and may reduce inflammatory diseases linked to obesity. Rheosmin may also partly block pancreatic lipase activity, potentially reducing fat absorption—a valuable effect for cardiovascular health.

The flavonoid glycoside tiliroside has been identified in raspberries. Preliminary in vitro studies show it can act as a non-specific blocker of adiponectin, a hormone involved in fat storage and glucose regulation and possibly the development and physiology of diabetes. Another raspberry phytocompound inhibits the enzyme alpha-glucosidase, which breaks down starch into sugars, meaning raspberry may help manage postprandial glucose and could be used adjunctively in type 2 diabetes or obesity management.

In mouse in vivo models of hyperoxaluria, raspberry compounds demonstrated a preventive effect against kidney stone formation, though further information is needed to fully understand this mechanism. Three in vivo studies indicate a therapeutic benefit of regular raspberry consumption in treating and preventing conjunctivitis.

Pregnancy and Safety

Several studies (involving 156 women in two independent trials and one case report) have evaluated the efficacy and safety of raspberry leaf and other plant parts during late pregnancy. Consumption was deemed safe, with no significant adverse effects observed compared to controls. The most commonly reported issues—nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea—were more associated with pregnancy itself rather than raspberry consumption.

Another observational study monitored 108 breastfeeding mothers using various raspberry products. No statistically significant adverse effects were observed among either pregnant or breastfeeding groups compared to controls.

The World Health Organization's monitoring center received two reports from the UK's pharmacovigilance center: one of diarrhea in a pregnant woman after consuming large amounts of raspberries and strawberries, and another of minor petechiae in a newborn from a mother who took higher-than-recommended doses of raspberry extract and evening primrose oil during pregnancy.

Traditional Medicine

Raspberry leaves and other plant parts are traditionally used for gastrointestinal complaints, including diarrhea, cramps, abdominal pain, as well as for flu, colds, headaches, and heart conditions. The berries are most commonly used for stomach issues, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and recommended for diabetes, fluid retention, sore throat, skin rashes, and as a vitamin supplement.

Raspberry supports sweating, kidney and liver activity, increasing bile and urine production. In Eastern European herbal texts, raspberry is referenced for blood cleansing, alleviating symptoms of heavy menstruation, morning sickness, miscarriage prevention, and pregnancy support. Historically, raspberry was also used to ease pregnancy and facilitate difficult deliveries, though this indication appears more often from 1941 onward in scholarly literature. Its official indications and uses were established in the "British Herbal Pharmacopoeia" in 1983, with numerous subsequent experimental and chemical papers discussing the use of raspberry in both therapeutic and preventive regimens.

Active Compounds

Raspberry fruit is rich in vitamin C, E, folate, phenolic and polyphenolic substances (hydrolyzable tannins 2.8–6.9%), gallotannins (e.g., trigalloylglucose, pentagalloyl-D-glucose), anthocyanins (cyanidin derivatives, pelargonidins, delphinidins, malvidins), ellagitannins (galloyl esters and D-glucose, sanguiin H-6, lambertianin C and D), flavonols (kaempferol, quercetin, hyperoside), glycosides, stilbenoids (resveratrol), alcohols (octanol, n-butanol), aldehydes (benzaldehyde, phenylacetaldehyde, decanal, hexanal, hexen-2al, tetradecanal), terpenoids (terpinolene, nerol, pulegone, terpineol, citral, oxoionol, amyrin, squalene, cycloartenol), as well as ellagic, gallic, methyl gallate, chlorogenic, coumaric, ferulic, gentisic, vanillic, caffeic acids, and hydroxycinnamates. Key minerals include calcium, magnesium, and zinc.

Raspberry "ketone" (4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)butan-2-one), used widely in the fragrance industry, is synthesized chemically and not extracted from the plant. Volatile compounds identified in raspberries (since 1995) vary over time but do not pose health risks.

Traditional Dosage

Traditional and supplementary dosages range widely, depending on indication, age, and individual circumstances. Orally, raspberry leaves, fruits, and other dried or fresh parts are recommended in doses from 1.0–8.0 grams, 2–4 times per day. When using infusions made from dried parts, 150 ml is taken 3 times daily. Dried extracts in therapeutic products are used at 113–226 mg, 3–4 times daily, always with meals.

When using raspberries or derived products for more serious indications, maximum regular usage should not exceed one week without symptom improvement or resolution, after which consultation with a healthcare provider is recommended. If symptoms worsen within three days after starting raspberry products, contact a pharmacist or physician.