Antioxidants are believed to have substantial health benefits and raspberries in particular are a good source. In fact, raspberries may have 10 times more antioxidants than tomatoes or broccoli. Further, raspberries contain some specific antioxidants that are found almost nowhere else.

Ellagic acid is a naturally occurring phenolic constituent in certain fruits and nuts. Research in the past decade confirms that Ellagic acid markedly inhibits the ability of other chemicals to cause mutations in bacteria. Ellagic acid from red raspberries has proven as an effective antimutagen and anticarcinogen as well as a inhibitor of cancer.

Ellagic acid has been found to occur naturally in 46 different foods, with the red raspberry having been identified as having the highest natural content.

Ellagic acid is a phenolic compound found in plants in the form of hydrolyzable tannins called ellagitannins. Ellagitannins are esters of glucose with hexahydroxydiphenic acid; when hydrolyzed, they yield Ellagic acid, the dilactone of hexahydroxydiphenic acid. Ellagic acid is a very stable compound and is readily absorbed through the gastrointestinal system in mammals, including humans.

Research studies on Ellagic acid have been extensive, especially in vitro studies and studies in laboratory animals. Although yet to prove conclusively in humans that red raspberries will reduce risk of cancer or even cause remission of active disease, this research does represent a substantial body of evidence to support the protective effects of ellagitannins in humans in combination with other chemopreventive nutrients.

Berries are the most common food sources of Ellagic acid. The relative amount of Ellagic acid in average number of micrograms per gram of dry weight fruit extract is highest in red raspberries at 1500 mcg, followed by strawberries at 630 mcg, walnuts at 590 mcg, pecans at 330 mcg, and cranberries at 120 mcg.

Red Raspberries are one of the 16 fruit superfoods found in SenSatiaFruit

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