Maqui berry (Aristotelia chilensis) is a type of wild Patagonian berry gaining recognition for its unusually high antioxidant activity and concentration of anthocyanins and polyphenols. As research uncovers health and functional benefits ranging from anti-inflammatory to cardioprotective properties, supplements featuring maqui berry extract powder have risen in popularity. But what exactly is maqui berry extract, what bioactives does it contain, and what science-backed benefits may it offer consumers?

Where Maqui Berries Originated from

Maqui berries grow wild in rainforest regions of Chile and southwest Argentina, where the Mapuche people indigenous to this area traditionally used them medicinally for various therapeutic purposes. Referred to as the “Lost Fruit of the Incas,” maqui’s use dates back centuries for benefits like alleviating sore throat pain, reducing fever, and promoting vitality. Today maqui still grows wild across central and southern Chile in addition to being cultivated on farms to meet rising global demand while preserving its organic status as a native Patagonian superfruit.

Key Bioactive Compounds in Maqui

Whole maqui berries are rich sources of antioxidant plant pigments known as anthocyanins that provide their deep purple color. The main anthocyanins in maqui are delphinidin and cyanidin, found in especially high densities. Maqui extract and juice powders also provide 15-30 times the amount of polyphenols as compared to more common berries. Key polyphenols include quercetin, ferulic acid, gallic acid and a range of proanthocyanidins. Together this nutrient diversity drives potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity that serves as the basis for maqui’s emergence as a functional health ingredient.

Research on Health and Performance Benefits

Early cell, animal and select human research indicates maqui berry’s unique phytochemical profile may promote several aspects of health spanning areas like inflammation, blood sugar regulation, metabolism, heart health markers and DNA protection from oxidative damage. Specifically, human trials link maqui supplementation to lower inflammatory markers, improved insulin sensitivity, higher antioxidant capacity of blood plasma, enhanced vascular function markers like LDL oxidation and blood pressure, increased metabolic rate and protected mitochondria from stress-induced dysfunction. Some findings also suggest maqui may support exercise performance by reducing perceived exertion and accelerating recovery. These effects are attributed to maqui’s exceptionally high concentrations of anthocyanins and polyphenols being well absorbed into circulation where they confer systemic antioxidant protection. Much more research is still needed to verify benefits, optimal dosing and safety over long-term use. But the initial body of evidence for maqui extract is quite promising.

Typical Forms and Dosing

Maqui is commonly available in powder or capsule form providing freeze-dried extract ranging from straight fruit powder to concentrates standardized to specific anthocyanin levels. Popular retail supplements supply maqui in doses spanning 100mg to 500mg one to two times per day. Consumption on an empty stomach may enhance bioavailability. Given the limited data establishing efficacy or safety thresholds, following package label recommendations for duration of use is advisable until more definitive human data emerges for guidance.

What is maqui berry extract good for?

Aristotelia chilensis fruit extract is derived from the deep purple maqui berry (Aristotelia chilensis), a wild Patagonian superfruit rich in anthocyanins and antioxidants. Early research suggests maqui supplements may be good for:

Reducing Inflammation - Maqui’s high antioxidant content is linked to lower inflammatory markers like TNF-alpha and IL-6 in humans. This helps control chronic inflammation underlying numerous diseases.

Optimizing Blood Sugar - Compounds in maqui appear to support insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism in preliminary studies. This may promote blood sugar stability.

Heart Health – Maqui shows early potential for reducing LDL oxidation, blood pressure, and vascular inflammation – all protective for heart disease risk.

Slowing Aging - The dense antioxidants in maqui neutralize cell and DNA damage from oxidative stress that drives aging. This may help maintain function during aging.

Increasing Fat Burning – Early findings suggest maqui may raise metabolic rate and fat burning effects. But confirmation in humans is still needed.

Cognitive Health – Rodent studies link maqui to enhanced neuronal signaling and protection against toxins related to Alzheimer’s disease pathology.

While promising, human data is extremely limited and optimal doses unclear. Most supplemental benefits are based on animal research at this stage. So aristotelia chilensis extract shows preliminary potential for fighting inflammation, protecting heart health, regulating blood sugar, increasing fat burning, preserving cognition, and slowing aging - but more extensive human trials are still needed.

What are the side effects of maqui berry?

Currently there is minimal safety data in humans establishing frequency or severity of side effects from maqui berry consumption. To date, maqui is generally well tolerated based on its extensive history of use as a food in indigenous Chilean cultures. However, as with any medicinal plant, the potential for allergy or interactions with medications exists. There is also some concern that very high doses of anthocyanins could negatively impact iron absorption.

Minor transient side effects reported sporadically include symptoms like upset stomach, nausea, dizziness or diarrhea when maqui extract is taken in excess. Adverse reactions appear rare but could manifest in those with sensitivities. Given lack of data on long term safety or drug interactions, staying within package label recommendations for dosing duration is wise until more studies establish upper tolerable limits. As with any new supplement, consulting your doctor before use is prudent to assess personal suitability. Generally maqui berry is well tolerated with low reported side effects, but individual factors can influence susceptibility.

Is maqui berry good for your kidneys?

Whether maqui berry extract powder promotes kidney health or function currently remains unknown based on the very limited data. No studies have specifically examined renal outcomes with maqui intake thus far. However, in native Chilean cultures maqui use shows an extensive history of traditional medicinal consumption with no reported issues for kidney toxicity or damage.

Some early findings do suggest compounds in maqui like delphindin-3-sambubioside may inhibit formation of advanced glycation endproducts associated with higher diabetic kidney disease risk. Maqui also reduces systemic oxidative stress and inflammation that can impact kidneys. So while direct support for renal function hasn’t been studied, maqui likely poses no harm and theoretically could benefit kidneys secondary to effects lowering blood sugar, inflammation and glycation. But without clinical trials assessing impact on kidneys, no conclusions can be drawn regarding efficacy or safety specific to the kidneys at this time.

Conclusion

In summary, it is a concentrated formulation of the deep purple maqui berry, an antioxidant-rich Patagonian superfruit containing record levels of health-enhancing anthocyanins and polyphenols. Though still an emerging ingredient with limited evidence, initial findings for maqui extract powders suggest a number of potential benefits related to reducing inflammation, protecting cardiovascular health, optimizing blood sugar regulation, increasing fat burning, neutralizing cell and DNA damage from oxidative stress, accelerating exercise recovery and more. However, human trials remain extremely limited and optimal intake levels unclear. Within context of a balanced diet and active lifestyle, it may provide additional functional support as a highly concentrated source of exotic rainforest antioxidants from this ultra-phytochemical rich superfruit.

Hubei Sanxin Biotechnology Co., Ltd. integrates the research and development, production and sales for many years. We are your reliable maqui berry extract powder wholesaler. We can supply customized service as your request.

Email: nancy@sanxinbio.com

References:

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3. Alvarado, J. L., Leschot, A., Olivera-Nappa, Á., Salgado, A. M., Rioseco, H., Lyon, C., & Vigil, P. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2018;2018:7931897.