Are Maqui Berries Really Good For You?

The recent craze over exotic “superfruits,” such as acai berries and mangosteen has food and dietary supplement manufacturers on the lookout for rising “superfruit” stars. And one of the latest destinations on the “superfruit” map is the Patagonia area of Chile and Argentina, the home of the maqui berry. The Internet is abuzz over “magic” maqui berries, which promise to help you lose weight, flush toxins, clear skin, boost energy and metabolism, prevent constipation, and even fight cancer. But is the maqui berry boom nothing but a bust?

Making Sense of Maqui Science

The maqui berry (Aristotelia chilensis) is a small, dark-purple berry that has a refreshing, yet not overly sweet taste. Legend has it that the native Mapuche Indians of the region long used the berry as natural medicine for treating a number of ailments. Today, you can find maqui berries sold on many websites, both in juice or supplement form.

Very little scientific information on maqui berries has been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.  Scientists from Chile and Mexico performed a laboratory study on samples of maqui berries, publishing their findings in an issue of Food Chemistry. The scientists identified numerous plant compounds, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins and a  proanthocyanidin, in the berry, which probably contribute to its very high antioxidant activity. In addition, test-tube studies have identified anti-inflammatory properties in the maqui berry, which have been linked to decreased risk for heart disease. But we don’t know a lot more about the science-based health potential of this purple berry.

However, a growing body of science indicates that naturally occurring antioxidants from plant foods may reduce cellular oxidative damage in the body, which may help protect against chronic diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and cardiovascular disease. In particular, anthocyanins—a group of more than 300 compounds responsible for the red, purple or blue colors of plant foods, such as blueberries, purple potatoes and grapes, attract a great deal of attention from nutrition researchers. Anthocyanins are difficult to study because they react easily with other compounds, and scientists still need to understand how they are metabolized and utilized in the human body. Yet, various anthocyanins have been linked with a number of benefits, such as visual acuity, anti-cancer activity, and protection against oxidative stress linked with the development of cardiovascular disease. Scientists have found that maqui berries contain high levels of anthocyanin compounds.

Beware of Maqui Scams

There’s no doubt that maqui berries can contribute a dose of health-protective plant compounds to your diet. But there’s also no doubt that maqui berries are being peddled vigorously by some disreputable vendors who promise unsubstantiated health benefits if you consume their product daily—which may set you back anywhere from $12-40 a bottle. Until the science proves otherwise, you might want to take that money and spend it on a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables that provide a rainbow of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients in your diet every day.

For other blogs on the benefits of berries, check out the following: 

Top 5 Ways to Enjoy Strawberries
Top 5 Ways to Enjoy Blackberries
Top 5 Ways to Enjoy Blueberries

Written by Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN in April 2011; updated on July 24, 2019.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Morana