Does Maqui Berry Help The Skin?

Native tribes in South America have relied on maqui berries for hundreds of years, but they’re relatively new to the rest of the world. Research into the nutritional value of the maqui berry is ongoing, but based on data already collected, it’s a good source of antioxidants that may help your skin.

Maqui

The maqui, also called Aristotelia chilensis or Chilean wineberry, is an evergreen shrub that grows abundantly in Chile and Argentina. It produces a small dark purple fruit that is the maqui berry. Studies published in the March 2011 issue of the “Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry” and the June 2011 issue of the “Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology” show that the maqui berry contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds.

Antioxidants and Skin

Your skin needs antioxidants to fight the effect of constant exposure to ultraviolet light, air pollution and other environmental stressors. Maqui berries give you a big boost of antioxidants that help reduce the risk of getting wrinkles, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The berries aren't ingredients in topical skin creams, but your skin also benefits from absorbing antioxidants in skin care products.

Anthocyanins

As antioxidants, anthocyanins protect your skin by neutralizing free radicals that can damage healthy cells and contribute to skin aging. The purple pigments in maqui berries are a good source of anthocyanins. In January 2006, the journal “Phytochemical Analysis” reported that maqui berries have 138 milligrams of anthocyanins in every 100 grams of fruit. This means that they have the same amount of anthocyanins as blackberries and blueberries and provide more than red grapes, raspberries and strawberries.

Vitamin C

The Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity is a test that measures the effectiveness of antioxidants in foods. Maqui berries received an ORAC score of 820, which is higher than any other fruit, including the acai berry. Maqui’s high ORAC score is attributed to vitamin C. In addition to being a powerful antioxidant, vitamin C has other roles that keep your skin healthy. As part of the top layers of skin, it’s essential for the skin’s supportive collagen matrix. Vitamin C obtained through the foods you eat, such as maqui berries, is important because aging and exposure to sunlight or pollutants results in less of the vitamin in your skin. Higher vitamin C intakes are associated with a lower chance of wrinkles and dryness, according to a study published in the October 2007 issue of the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.”

Considerations

Mineral levels in maqui berries are similar to or higher than other tropical fruits, according to research published in the October 2008 issue of “Biological Trace Element Research.” But as of publication, nutrient values for vitamins had not yet been published by the USDA Nutrient Data Laboratory or other reliable sources. Supplements on the market usually report only the amount of maqui extract in one dose. They don't list individual nutrients unless the maqui is mixed with other ingredients for which the values are available.