Wild raspberry: Antioxidant fruits from Eastern Himalaya

Raspberry fruits were used to investigate their possible activity against free radicals with possible implication in alleviating oxidative stress. A detailed in vitro antioxidant profiling, has been executed with a motive to evaluate the free radical scavenging activity of raspberry fruits extract. The immune cell proliferative properties (MTT) and in vitro assay for evaluation of their antioxidant activities including hydroxyl radical, nitric oxide, singlet oxygen, peroxynitrite and hydrogen peroxide were investigated. GC‐MS and FTIR analysis have been performed for the proper identification of active biological compounds. The results showed that raspberry fruit extracts have potent free radical scavenging capacity. ROS generated due to H₂O₂ in HEK‐293 cell line were normalized in the highest group (200 µg/mL) when compared with control group. MTT assay also proved that raspberry fruit extracts have the potentiality to modulate the immune system. In the present study, the peak characteristics of FTIR revealed that raspberry fruit extracts might be a probable source of many natural phyto‐compounds. The compounds identified by the GC‐MS analysis are known to have potent antioxidant activity. The present study clearly demonstrates that raspberry fruit extracts (Rubus lineatus and Rubus treutleri) are effective in alleviating ROS and RNS related complexities while being absolutely safe for human consumption and beneficial for the immune system. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Naturally occurring antioxidants have become increasingly popular over its synthetic counterpart in food, pharmaceutical and even in cosmetic industries due to its minimal side effects and ease in absorbance in physiological environment namely human body. Local people of Darjeeling Hills consume raspberry unaware of its medicinal properties. The aim of our study is to establish the medicinal properties of raspberry fruits through the antioxidant and cytotoxic activity.