[Cloudberry: an important source of ellagic acid, an anti-oxidant].

Cloudberry, Rubus chamaemorus L. (Rosaceae) is an herbaceous plant with a boreal, circumpolar distribution. Its fruit is of economic importance in northern Scandinavia; furthermore, this plant is of significance in Norwegian tradition. We present a review of its biology, secondary metabolites as well as cloudberry applications. The compounds of primary interest in cloudberry are vitamin C and ellagotannins with a high level of ellagic acid that exhibits biological activities. Ellagic acid, a dietary phenolic, offers considerable promise as anticarcinogen, antimutagen and antioxidant. The ellagic acid content in cloudberries could have health benefits.