Omnia SanaCommon names in 25 European languages →
The complete database record: 3 documented constituents, 3 pharmacological actions, 6 traditional / indicated uses, with 15 cited sources.
Botanical Description
Deciduous, thicket-forming shrub (Rosaceae), 1-2 m tall, with upright, prickly, biennial canes (vegetative in the first year, fruiting in the second). Leaves are pinnate with 3-7 toothed leaflets, whitish-felted beneath. Small white, five-petalled flowers are followed by the aggregate red raspberry fruit, a cluster of drupelets.[2]
Habitat & Distribution
Native to Europe and northern Asia, widely cultivated as a fruit crop and naturalised on woodland edges, hedgerows and disturbed ground in temperate regions.[2]
Harvesting
Leaves are picked fresh during the growing season - before or during flowering is considered optimal - and dried; fruit is picked when fully ripe in summer.[2]
Key Constituents
Pharmacological Actions
Astringent for mild diarrhoea (tannins)
Astringent for menstrual cramps (traditional); Astringent for mild diarrhoea (tannins)
Traditional uterine tonic taken in late pregnancy to tone the uterus and support labour - one small double-blind RCT found a shorter second stage of labour and fewer forceps deliveries (no effect on the first stage), alongside observational signals; robust proof is still lacking
Traditional & Indicated Uses
Astringent for menstrual cramps (traditional)
inferred from emmenagogue action
more plants for pms / premenstrual syndrome →detailed sources →
inferred from astringent action
Traditional Use & History
Raspberry leaf has a long, very widely known folk tradition as a 'pregnancy tea', taken in the final weeks of pregnancy as a uterine tonic to prepare for labour. Observational studies and a small randomised controlled trial suggest a possible modest effect on labour duration, though robust proof is still lacking.[1, 14]
Preparations
Dosage
Popular guidance and observational studies generally describe starting raspberry-leaf tea or tablets in the last few weeks of pregnancy, at roughly 1-3 cups of tea daily; use should be discussed with a midwife or doctor given the lack of robust trial evidence. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Harvest Readiness
[13]
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- Bowman, R.L., Taylor, J. and Davis, D.L (2024) 'Raspberry leaf (Rubus idaeus) use in pregnancy: a prospective observational study', BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies. doi:10.1186/s12906-024-04465-7 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-024-04465-7 - Mostafa, H.S. and others (2020) 'Phenolic Composition, Mineral Content, and Beneficial Bioactivities of Leaf Extracts from Black Currant (Ribes nigrum L.), Raspberry (Rubus idaeus), and Aronia (Aronia melanocarpa)', Nutrients, 12(2), pp. 463. doi:10.3390/nu12020463 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12020463 - Bijak, M., Saluk-Bijak, J. and others (2016) 'The influence of Rubus idaeus and Rubus caesius leaf extracts on platelet aggregation in whole blood. Cross-talk of platelets and neutrophils', Platelets, 27(5), pp. 433-439. doi:10.3109/09537104.2015.1131254 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3109/09537104.2015.1131254 - Valdes, M. and others (2022) 'Rubus idaeus extract improves symptoms in knee osteoarthritis patients: results from a phase II double-blind randomized controlled trial', BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 23(1), pp. 650. doi:10.1186/s12891-022-05612-2 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-022-05612-2 - Campos, P.M. and others (2020) 'Anti-aging and brightening effects of a topical treatment containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract: A split-face, randomized controlled trial', Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 19(3), pp. 671-676. doi:10.1111/jocd.13305 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.13305 - Bednarski, M. and others (2014) 'CD39/NTPDase-1 expression and activity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells are differentially regulated by leaf extracts from Rubus caesius and Rubus idaeus', Cellular & Molecular Biology Letters, 19(2), pp. 291-304. doi:10.2478/s11658-014-0202-8 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.2478/s11658-014-0202-8 - Rojas-Vera, J., Patel, A.V. and Dacke, C.G (2002) 'Relaxant activity of raspberry (Rubus idaeus) leaf extract in guinea-pig ileum in vitro', Phytotherapy Research, 16(7), pp. 665-668. doi:10.1002/ptr.1040 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1040 - Raudone, L. and others (2022) 'In Vitro Antioxidant and Prooxidant Activities of Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) Stem Extracts', Molecules, 27(13), pp. 4073. doi:10.3390/molecules27134073 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27134073 - Cugnetto, M.L. and others (2015) 'An oil-soluble extract of Rubus idaeus cells enhances hydration and water homeostasis in skin cells', International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 37(4), pp. 428-433. doi:10.1111/ics.12236 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1111/ics.12236 - Socha, M.W., Flis, W., Wartega, M., Szambelan, M., Pietrus, M. and Kazdepka-Zieminska, A (2023) 'Raspberry Leaves and Extracts-Molecular Mechanism of Action and Its Effectiveness on Human Cervical Ripening and the Induction of Labor', Nutrients, 15(14), pp. 3206. doi:10.3390/nu15143206 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15143206 - Jianu, E.M., Pop, R.M., Gherman, L.M., Ranga, F., Levai, A.M., Rus, V., Bolboaca, S.D., Stefan, R.A., Onofrei, M.M., Nati, I.D., Stoia, I.A., Stefan, P.A., Mihu, C. and Mihu, C.M (2024) 'The Effect of Rubus idaeus Polyphenols Extract in Induced Endometriosis in Rats', Molecules, 29(4), pp. 778. doi:10.3390/molecules29040778 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29040778 - Cyboran-Mikolajczyk, S., Meczarska, K., Solarska-Sciuk, K., Ratajczak-Wielgomas, K., Oszmianski, J., Jencova, V. and Bonarska-Kujawa, D (2022) 'Protection of Erythrocytes and Microvascular Endothelial Cells against Oxidative Damage by Fragaria vesca L. and Rubus idaeus L. Leaves Extracts - The Mechanism of Action', Molecules, 27(18), pp. 5865. doi:10.3390/molecules27185865 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27185865 - Plants For A Future 'Rubus idaeus (Raspberry)'. Available at: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Rubus+idaeus Traditional / reference
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Rubus+idaeus - Farnaghi, S. and Braniff, K (2022) 'Survey of Raspberry Leaf Tea in pregnancy', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. doi:10.1111/ajo.13496 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1111/ajo.13496 - Simpson, M., Parsons, M., Greenwood, J. and Wade, K (2001) 'Raspberry leaf in pregnancy: its safety and efficacy in labor', Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, 46(2), pp. 51--59. doi:10.1016/s1526-9523(01)00095-2 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1016/s1526-9523(01)00095-2
Selected studies & references
All 14 studies in the Knowledge Finder →
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.