Rubus coreanus

Rubus coreanus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rosaceae
Genus:	Rubus
Species:	R. coreanus
Binomial name
Rubus coreanus Miq. 1867
Synonyms[1]
Rubus coreanus var. kouytchensis (H.Lév.) H.Lév. Rubus coreanus var. nakaianus H.Lév. Rubus nakaianus H.Lév. ex Nakai Rubus pseudosaxatilis H.Lév. Rubus pseudosaxatilis var. kouytchensis H.Lév. Rubus quelpaertensis H.Lév. Rubus tokkura Siebold

(left to right) R. coreanus, R. thibetanus, R. corchorifolius^[2]

Rubus coreanus, known as bokbunja^[3] (Korean: 복분자), Korean blackberry,^[3] or Korean bramble,^[4] is a species of raspberry native to Korea, Japan, and China.^[5] It produces edible berries (not true berries in the botanical sense) that are fermented into bokbunja ju (Korean: 복분자주), a Korean fruit wine (although the majority of fruit commercially grown for producing this drink are actually Rubus occidentalis, native to North America).^[6][7][8][9] One of the biggest exporters of Bokbunja ju or Bokbonjajoo (depending on romanization) is the Bohae Brewery Company. The company launched high-quality traditional black Raspberry wine, Bohae Bokbonjajoo, back in 2004.^[10] R. coreanus fruits are usually harvested between the months of May and July at peak harvest season. And can only be cultivated in a few areas in Korea, when compared to Rubus occidentalis, which can be cultivated widely across the country.^[11]

Species Variations[]

Like every other fruit known to mankind, Rubus coreanus belongs to an incredibly extensive family of various fruit species with similar qualities. The extensive family of the aforementioned fruit is categorized under “Rubus.” The genus Rubus (family Rosacea) comprises 600 to 800 species distributed in a temperate climate and polar regions of the world. Fruits of Rubus species, commonly known as raspberries in Europe and the United States of America are largely distinguished by their color (red, black, and purple). Approximately 20 Rubus species are naturally found in Korea, including Rubus paroifolius, Rubus crataegifolius, Rubus corchorifolius, Rubus oldhamii, and Rubus coreanus.^[11]

Health Benefits[]

Rubus coreanus has been used for centuries as traditional alternative medicine, as well as regular food, depending on its ripeness. Various studies have demonstrated that the ripe fruits of R. coreanus significantly reduce the risk of many diseases, including asthma, allergies, and obesity and are effective in reducing inflammation and oxidation.^[12] They also exhibit antioxidative, antipyretic, anticancer, and anti-high cholesterol properties proving highly beneficial to human health.^[11]

Antioxidant Properties and Extraction Methods[]

R. coreanus is rich in antioxidant compounds.^[11] A major active compound in R. coreanus is ellagic acid, which has been shown to possess the anti-obesity and antioxidant properties the R. coreanus fruit is known for.^[12] In order to extract the antioxidant properties, there are a couple of methods that can be employed. The most common methods of extraction for R. coreanus fruit and leaves alike are the conventional reflux heating or sonication extraction methods. Both methods share the same pre-preparation stage for samples before extraction. All samples are washed, dried in shade, and ground to a fine powder using a mill. In the reflux method, the ground powder is extracted using a Soxhlet extractor for three hours, with the extracts being filtered and concentrated using a rotary evaporator under a vacuum. In the ultrasonic bath extraction method, samples are extracted with 70% methanol using an ultrasonic bath at 64 °C for 2 h.^[11]

See also[]

• Black raspberry

References[]

External links[]

• "Rubus coreanus". Plants for a Future.