What is maqui berry?

Maqui berry is a plant of the Elaeocarpaceae family that grows in Chile and Argentina. Maqui berry is a small tree evergreen tree which reaches a height of up to 4m. The dark green leaves are opposite and oval. The flowers are unisexual, green colored and large. The purple maqui berry fruits are 4 to 6 mm in diameter, and contain 4 to 8 angular seeds.

Parts used

Fresh maqui berries and infusions of maqui leaves have long been used in the traditional native herbal medicine by Mapuche Indians to treat different ailments. The maqui berry juice is now used as an ingredient in many health drinks. Maqui berries have the highest known antioxidant level of all fruits, almost 3 times higher than that of acai berries. Maqui is also the name of a wine made from maqui berries.

Phytochemicals

These are typical phytochemicals found in maqui berry: anthocyanins, delphinidin, malvidin, petunidin, cumarins, triterpenes, flavonoids, cyanidin.

Benefits of maqui berry

The anthocyanins in aqui berries protects low density lipoproteins from oxidation, reduce inflammation and help to protect our cells from oxidative stress. Maqui berries are traditionnaly used to strength and stamina and to treat ailments such as sore throat, diarrhea, ulcers and fever.

Other facts

The maqui berry is a traditional food of Mapuche Indians and has recently hit the Western market as a one of the superfoods, next to acai and pomegranate.

Other names

Macal