Blackberries possess marked concentrations of antioxidant polyphenols, most notably anthocyanins, ellagic acid, ellagitannins, epi/catechin, and proanthocyanidins. While the quantity and type of polyphenols can vary, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) is consistently the most abundant polyphenol found in blackberries. Though blackberry antioxidants have not demonstrated significant bioavailability or bioaccessibility in their native form, emerging research suggests that antioxidant metabolites, such as protocatechuic acid derived from C3G, may account for some of the in vivo benefits. Cell studies conducted with blackberry phenolic extracts have demonstrated anti-inflammatory, chemopreventive, and neuroprotective effects; whereas, animal models given blackberries have exhibited reduced insulin resistance, attenuated weight gain, and a decrease in inflammatory markers. Blackberry consumption can lead to positive health outcomes. In human health cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, fresh berry consumption has been associated with better long-term insulin resistance, cognitive function, bone density, and cardiovascular function. Research studies, combining in vitro digestion and absorption with targeted cell studies, are being performed to better understand the metabolism and bioactivity of blackberry phenolics. These compounds are not only absorbed by the body, but also can attach to the lining of the digestive tract or be fermented in the colon, contributing to the health outcomes afforded by blackberry consumption.

Inositol phosphates (InsPs), especially myo-inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP₆), are important binders of phosphorus and minerals in plant seeds. However, they have long been considered as anti-nutritional components of plant foods due to their possible negative effects on the absorption of minerals and proteins in mammals. On the other hand, recent findings have found InsPs to be ubiquitous in eukaryote cells and actively participating in multiple cell functions. In vivo and in vitro studies have also documented the preventive potential of these compounds against the development of a wide range of diseases. In light of these findings, interest in the relationship between these compounds and human health has been renewed. It is suggested that the interactions of InsPs with other nutrients in the gut are complex, that the absorption of dietary InsPs might be implied but is not certain, and that the disease fighting capabilities of InsPs hold both promises and limitations. At the same time, the analysis of these compounds in foods and biological samples still faces many challenges, calling for more advanced modification and developments in the future.