Great question, and one we hear fairly often, especially from folks who are digging into the nutritional aspects of red raspberry seeds or researching Ellagic Acid and Ellagitannins.
You're right to wonder! While we do press the oil out of the seeds first, that process doesn't significantly impact the Ellagic Acid content in the remaining seed material. That's because Ellagic Acid and its precursors, Ellagitannins, are primarily concentrated in the fibrous portion of the seed, not in the oil itself.
So, when we cold-press the seeds to extract the oil, the Ellagic Acid and Ellagitannins largely remain in the 'seed cake' – the solid, defatted material left behind. We then carefully mill this defatted seed material into powder. Our low-temperature drying and pressing methods, without the use of harsh solvents, are key to ensuring these valuable polyphenols stay intact.
It's also worth noting that the oil has its own impressive profile, rich in beneficial compounds like tocopherols (Vitamin E) and carotenoids. However, while Ellagic Acid is slightly soluble in water or alcohol, it's not lipid-soluble, meaning it doesn't dissolve well in fats or oils. Because of this, Ellagic Acid and Ellagitannins aren't found in meaningful amounts in the oil. You might find trace amounts, but the real concentration of Ellagic Acid and Ellagitannins is in the fiber.
Hope this clarifies things for you, and please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any more questions!
