Phenolic in raspberry

The wide range of values reported for various classes of phenolic in berries reflect differences in genetics, cultural practices, environmental growing conditions, and possibly maturation. It was reported that the color of raspberry juice correlated with the total phenolic.

Black raspberries had the highest ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance), anthocyanin and phenolic compounds. Anthocyanins are the major phenolics present in black raspberries, with levels ranging from 464 to 627 mg/100 g FW.

Black raspberries also contain appreciable levels of total ellagic acid which most likely is due to high concentrations of ellagitannins in the fruit.

Red raspberry seeds contained more phenolic compounds (ellagic acid content) than pulp, but leaves had a higher content than seeds or pulp. Phenolic compounds ellagic acid, a dimeric derivative of gallic acid, is suggested as an anti- carcinogenic/anti-mutagenic compound. It is present in plants in the form of hydrolysable tannins called ellagitannins.

Only red raspberries had detectable amounts of procyanidin oligomers (monomer, dimers and trimers).
Phenolic in raspberry

Health benefits of ellagic acid

Ellagic acid is a dimeric derivative of gallic acid also known as hexahydroxydiphenic acid, which spontaneously forms a dilactone.

It is the lactone form that is commonly known as ellagic acid. This acid is already present in most ellagitannin-rich foods and is also produced during food processing and storage.

Ellagitannin present as the structural components of the plant cell wall and cell membrane. Ellagic acid and its derivative have limited distribution.

They are first seen at high concentrations in the strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, blackberries and grapes. Other sources of ellagic acid include walnuts, pecans and distilled beverages.

Recent studies indicated that ellagic acid possesses anti-mutagenic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in bacterial and mammalian systems.

Ellagic acid has been shown in research and laboratory models to inhibit the growth of tumors caused by certain carcinogens. It causes apoptosis of cancer cells in the lab, within no change to healthy, normal cells.
Health benefits of ellagic acid