Appendix 1 - Raspberry leaf tea

Search Methodology

1.               The following electronic databases were searched for relevant articles published from inception to Apr 2022: LitFetch (which includes material from PubMed, Scopus, Ebsco (Food Science Source) and Springer); ScienceDirect and Cochrane Library. Google and Google Scholar were also searched. The searches were conducted on various dates between 1^st Apr 2022 and 22^nd Apr 2022.

2.               The search terms used included ‘raspberry leaf’ OR ‘Rubus idaeus’ AND: (‘safety’ OR ‘tox*’ OR ‘pregnan*’ OR ‘maternal’ OR ‘exposure’ OR ‘consumption’ OR ‘indications’ OR ‘uses’ OR ‘childbirth’ OR ‘transgenerational’ OR ‘transgenic’ OR ‘convulsion’ OR ‘uterine contract*’ OR ‘development’ OR ‘interactions’ OR ‘gestation’ OR ‘caesarean’ or ‘contaminant’ OR ‘heavy metal’ OR ‘mycotoxin’ OR ‘pesticide’ OR ‘residue’).

3.               The references from extracted papers were searched for citations not captured in the literature search. Only articles published in English were included, due to the linguistic abilities of the reviewer.

4.               The UKTIS was also asked for information on any enquiries relating to maternal raspberry leaf use and any reports of adverse effects in pregnant women or their newborn infants received since its inception in 1983 to Apr 2022. This included information relating to the type, dosage, duration and timing of raspberry leaf taken and any pregnancy outcomes captured through follow-up.