Aristotelia chilensis
Aristotelia chilensis, commonly known as Maqui, is a remarkable medicinal shrub native to the temperate forests of Chile. Renowned for its antioxidant-rich berries, this plant is traditionally used to combat inflammation and support digestive health. Its potent bioactive compounds offer significant therapeutic potential in modern natural medicine practices.
- Scientific name: Aristotelia chilensis
- Family: Elaeocarpaceae
- Native range: Southern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, known scientifically as Aristotelia chilensis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is further classified within the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae under the order Oxalidales. Finally, it is a member of the family Elaeocarpaceae and the genus Aristotelia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Oxalidales | WCVP |
| Family | Elaeocarpaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Aristotelia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Aristotelia chilensis, is known by several different common names depending on the language and region. In Thai, it is referred to as มากี้เบอร์รี่, while in Hebrew, it is called תות יין צ'יליאני. In Chinese, the name varies slightly by script: it is written as 馬基果 in traditional characters (zh and zh-tw) and as 玛基果 in simplified Chinese (zh-cn).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| th | มากี้เบอร์รี่ | Wikidata |
| he | תות יין צ'יליאני | Wikidata |
| zh | 馬基果 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 玛基果 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 馬基果 | Wikidata |
| ko | 아리스토텔리아 킬렌시스 | Wikidata |
| es | Aristotelia maqui | Wikidata |
| es | Queldrón | Wikidata |
| es | Cornus chilensis | Wikidata |
| es | Queldron | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is native to the diverse landscapes of Southern South America. Its distribution spans across multiple regions of Argentina, including the Northeast, South, and Northwest. Furthermore, it can be found throughout various parts of Chile, specifically in the Central and South regions. These various locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in different ecological zones within the southern cone. Consequently, its presence is widely spread across both the Chilean and Argentine territories.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Southern South America | Argentina Northeast | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Argentina South | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Argentina Northwest | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Chile Central | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Chile South | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Juan Fernández Is. | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known commonly as chilco, exhibits distinct morphological features that contribute to its identification in the wild. Its evergreen leaves are characterized by their leathery texture and serrated margins, providing a dense, dark green foliage that remains throughout the seasons. During its fruiting stage, the plant produces a small, succulent berry that typically transitions to a dark color, serving as a key structural component of its reproductive cycle.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| berry | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Aristotelia chilensis has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Anthocyanins, Polyphenol, aristoteline, delphinidin, flavonoids.
- Total chemicals
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Anthocyanins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Polyphenol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aristoteline | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| delphinidin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| kaempferol glucoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| quercetin glucoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Aristotelia chilensis has 5 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antihemolytic, Antioxidant, Astringent, Tonic.
- Total activities
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihemolytic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Astringent | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Tonic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Aristotelia chilensis has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include analgesic, atherosclerosis, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diarrhea.
- Total uses
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| atherosclerosis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cardiovascular disease | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diarrhea | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wounds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |