Maqui berries are dark and small fruits from Chile. Their main pro-he alth component are anthocyanins. These compounds have strong antioxidant properties and therefore help to prevent many diseases related to oxidative stress. The positive effect of maqui berries on he alth has been used by the indigenous people of Patagonia - the Mapuche Indians for hundreds of years. So read on to see how maqui berries work!
Maqui berries (Aristotelia chilensis)are found in Chile in southern Patagonia. They grow on evergreen, small trees, reaching 4-5 meters in height.Maqui berriesare small spherical fruit, 4-6 mm in diameter and dark purple, almost black in color. Maqui berries look similar to Polish berries and have a sweet, slightly tart taste. The fruit is harvested from December to March. Maqui trees are not grown in typical orchards. They grow wild in indigenous forests away from industrial pollution, and are sometimes planted in home gardens. Most maqui berries are sold harvested in forests. There are relatively few of them, they are harvested by hand using traditional methods - mostly by Mapuche Indians (literally: People of the Earth) who have been dealing with it for generations. Fresh fruit can only be purchased where it occurs naturally. They are also processed into jams and juices.
Maqui is delivered to Poland in a dried, powdered form or as a component of dietary supplements. Powdered fruit can be added to smoothies, ice cream, homemade bars, porridge, desserts and puddings. Maqui berries are used as a natural color in food, drinks and wines. They have always been valued by the indigenous people of Chile. The Mapuche Indians have likely used the leaves, stems, fruit, and wine of maqui as a medicine for generations.
Maqui berries - properties and nutritional value
Maqui berries are a source of a large amount of antioxidants - phenolic acids, flavonoids, tannins, anthocyanins and alkaloids. The most important are anthocyanins, and delphinidin accounts for about 80% of these compounds in maqui. 100 g of fresh fruit contains 138 mg of anthocyanins and 212 mg of dried fruit. The fruit is characterized by an extremely high antioxidant potential and the ability to neutralize free radicals. The maqui juices show the highestthe content of antioxidant compounds among berries. It is associated with the protection of cells against oxidative stress, reducing the concentration of malondialdehyde in the blood (a marker of oxidative stress) and reduction of oxidized lipids, which have a pro-inflammatory effect. The ORAC value (ability to absorb reactive oxygen species expressed as µmol TE / 100 g) for maqui berries is one of the highest among the fruit and amounts to 28,200. For comparison, the ORAC of powdered acai berries is 102,700 (almost 4 times more), fresh black raspberries - 19220 , chokeberry - 16062, and blueberries - 9621. Maqui are a valuable antioxidant and nutraceutical, they are a source of calcium (87 mg / 100 g fresh weight), iron (30.5 mg / 100 g of fresh weight) and potassium (296 mg / 100 g of dry weight).
Fresh maqui berries provide 150 kcal / 100 g, and 100 g of powdered fruit contains:
- 410 kcal,
- 8.1 g protein,
- 9.8 g fat,
- 72 g carbohydrates (including 31 g sugar),
- 8 mg sodium,
- 58 mg of vitamin C.
| ORAC value [µmol TE / 100 g] of selected fruits | |
| maqui berries | 28200 |
| blueberries | 9600 |
| cranberry | 9100 |
| blackcurrant | 8000 |
| red raspberries | 5100 |
| pomegranate | 4500 |
| acai berries (fresh) | 4000 |
| goji berries | 3290 |
| lemon |
1400 |
Maqui berries - effect on he alth
Jagody maqui and heart disease
Maqui berries protect the heart. A study in rats showed that fruit extract prevented myocardial damage in acute ischemia and arrhythmias. This effect is probably related to reduced lipid oxidation, LDL cholesterol and lowering the concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive compounds, which also results in a lower risk of atherosclerosis.
Maqui and diabetes
Maqui berries have anti-diabetic properties. Researchers at Rutgers University found that maqui fruit extract increases glucose tolerance and lowers glucose levels in the blood of obese hyperglycemic mice. In addition, maqui anthocyanins slow down the rise in blood glucose after a meal and increase the sensitivity of muscle cells to insulin.
Maqui for smokers
Maqui berries help smokers reduce airway damage from inflammation and oxidative stress. Such conclusions were drawn from a small study (15 people)lasting 2 weeks, during which participants took 2 g of maqui fruit extract twice a day. Reduced levels of oxidative stress markers in the lungs and improved resistance to respiratory infections were noticed in the smokers under study.
Anti-inflammatory effect of maqui berries
Studies published in 2011 show that maqui juice has a strong anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the secretion of a key regulator of the immune system's inflammatory response. It also reduces the production of the COX-2 enzyme, which is responsible for inflammation and pain sensation.
Worth knowingMaqui berries for he alth and beauty
Maqui berries and juice from these fruits are worth introducing to the diet due to many other he alth properties:
- beneficial effect on the skin and slowing down its aging;
- skin protection against harmful UV radiation (positive effect on keratinocytes in the skin);
- stimulating hair growth;
- supporting the immune system thanks to the presence of delphinidin anthocyanin;
- antibacterial action, incl. against Listeria;
- inhibiting the development of the herpes virus;
- positive effect on eyesight - the extract inhibits damage to retinal photoreceptor cells caused by the action of light,
- prevention of osteoporosis by increasing bone mineralization.
Jagody maqui and Mapuche Indians
The Mapuche Indians of central and southern Chile have been using maqui as both food and medicine for hundreds of years. Based on history, legends and myths, it can be said that they treated berries as unusual, even magical fruits. The Mapuche Indians repelled the incursions of the Incas and Spaniards. Legend has it that they owed their extraordinary strength and endurance in combat to drinking fermented maqui berry juice several times a day. The fruit was a source of overall good he alth for them, and the blueberry preserves were especially valuable in winter - warming them up and helping to fight infections. The Mapuche Indians used the fruit for fever, sore throat, diarrhea, ulcers, kidney pain, and hemorrhoids during childbirth. Powdered, dried leaves were used as a compress to accelerate wound healing. Leaf infusions have been used in diarrhea, inflammation of the large intestine, mouth ulcers, pharyngitis and digestive ailments. The fruit was eaten raw, used to make jams and juices and the alcoholic drink "tecu".
Sources:
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3. Genskowsky E. et al., Determination of polyphenolic profile, antioxidant activity and antibacterial properties of maqui [Aristotelia chilensis (Molina) Stuntz] a Chilean blackberry, J Sci Food Agric, 2016, 96, 4235-4242
4. Rojo L.E. et al., In vitro and in vivo anti-diabetic effects of anthocyanins from Maqui Berry (Aristotelia chilensis), Food Chemistry, 2012, 131 (2), 387-396
5. Watson R.R. et al., Nutraceutical and antioxidant effects of a delphinidin-rich maqui berry extract Delphinol®: a review, MINERVA CARDIOANGIOL 2015.63 (Suppl. 1 to No. 2), 1-12
6. Schmidt H. (1992) Tabla de composicion quimica de alimentos chilenos… Facultad de Cwienas Quimicas y Farmaceuticas. Departamento de Cwienas de los Alimentos y Tecnologia Quimica, Universidad de Chile. Biblioteca digital de la Universidad de Chile. Disponible en.
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8. MAQUI BERRY EXTRACT Ver.1.OFF, TK, ORYZA OIL & FAT CHEMICAL CO., LTD., Http://www.oryza.co.jp/html/english/pdf/Maqui%20berry_e%20Ver.1.0FFTK.pdf
9. https://www.superfoodly.com/orac-values/
10. https://www.acaiprodukty.cz/gallery/downloads/3.pdf
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12. http://www.healwithfood.org/superfoods/wild-maqui-berry-he alth-benefits.php
13. https://www.vitaminking.com.au/maqui-berry-powder-organic-50g-by-power-super-foods