When formulators search for Maqui Berry ingredients backed by clinical research, Delphinol® is usually part of that conversation — it's one of the most extensively studied Maqui extracts on the market, with published research spanning metabolic health, skin vitality, and oxidative stress. That's a different kind of demand than what drives interest in Maqui XT® Powder, which formulators typically look for when they need a flexible, broad-spectrum antioxidant rather than a specific substantiated claim.
Both ingredients share the same botanical origin and the same delphinidin-rich profile. What separates them isn't format — both can go into a range of applications — it's the depth and specificity of the science behind each one.
Same Origin, Different Depth of Research
Every MNL Group ingredient starts in the same place: wild-harvested Maqui Berry (Aristotelia chilensis) from the forests of Chilean Patagonia. From there, MNL Group develops each ingredient around a different research and application strategy.
Delphinol® — Multi-Area Clinical Substantiation
Delphinol® is MNL Group's patented, standardized extract (US 14/067,066), standardized to ≥25% delphinidins and ≥35% total anthocyanins — the same rigorous standardization as MaquiBright®, but studied across a broader set of health areas. Delphinol® is supported by more than 15 years of clinical and pre-clinical research spanning three distinct territories:
- Metabolic health: In a 90-day clinical trial with prediabetic individuals at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Delphinol® reduced HbA1c from 5.65% to 5.35% and lowered LDL cholesterol by approximately 14% (Panminerva Medica, 2016), at a dose of 180 mg/day.
- Skin vitality: A 90-day study combining Delphinol® with collagen showed a 39% increase in skin elasticity and 22% increase in dermal thickness (Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2018); a separate Japanese RCT found measurable improvements in skin brightness and redness at 60 mg/day.
- Oxidative stress: Laboratory analysis confirmed full-spectrum antioxidant activity, neutralizing all five major reactive oxygen species, with an ORAC value of 349,109 µmol TE/100g.
That range is what makes Delphinol® the ingredient of choice when a brand needs a specific, substantiated claim in metabolic health, skin, or antioxidant defense — not just "contains antioxidants," but a claim backed by a named clinical outcome.
Maqui XT® Powder — Versatile Antioxidant Base
Maqui XT® Powder carries Maqui's antioxidant profile in concentrated, solvent-free form, standardized to ≥20% delphinidins and ≥25% total anthocyanins. Rather than a dedicated clinical claim, it's built to deliver Maqui's antioxidant strength broadly — into beverages, functional foods, and general-purpose supplements — for brands that need a strong, clean-label antioxidant ingredient without anchoring the product to a single, specific health outcome.
Two Profiles, One Source
Delphinol® at a glance
- ≥25% delphinidins / ≥35% total anthocyanins
- Patented extract (US 14/067,066)
- Clinically studied across metabolic health, skin vitality, and oxidative stress
- Multiple named clinical outcomes (HbA1c, LDL, skin elasticity, ORAC 5.0)
Maqui XT® Powder at a glance
- ≥20% delphinidins / ≥25% total anthocyanins
- Solvent-free, water-soluble concentrate
- Broad-spectrum antioxidant base, no dedicated clinical trial
- Built for functional beverages, foods, and general-purpose supplements
Which One Fits Your Brief?
Need a specific, named claim — glucose metabolism, skin elasticity, or full-spectrum oxidative defense? Delphinol® is the ingredient with the clinical data to support it, across three distinct research areas.
Need a versatile, clean-label antioxidant that doesn't anchor the product to one specific outcome? Maqui XT® Powder gives you the same Patagonian origin without requiring a single substantiated claim to build the product around.
Some formulators use Delphinol® in a targeted metabolic or skin-health product, and Maqui XT® Powder in a broader wellness line — since both draw from the same traceable source, applied according to how specific the claim needs to be.
Looking to compare formats as well as claims? MNL Group's guide to MaquiBright® and Maqui XT® Powder breaks down the same distinction from a formulation-format perspective.
Looking for the right Maqui ingredient for your next claim?
Request technical documentation or a sample of Delphinol® or Maqui XT® Powder.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Delphinol® and Maqui XT® Powder?
Delphinol® is a patented, standardized extract (≥25% delphinidins) studied across metabolic health, skin vitality, and oxidative stress, with multiple named clinical outcomes published in peer-reviewed journals. Maqui XT® Powder is a solvent-free, water-soluble concentrate (≥20% delphinidins) built as a versatile antioxidant base for beverages and functional foods, without a dedicated clinical trial of its own. Both originate from the same wild-harvested Patagonian Maqui Berry.
Do Delphinol® and Maqui XT® Powder offer the same benefits?
Both share the same delphinidin-rich Maqui Berry origin and the same antioxidant compound family. The difference is in substantiation: Delphinol® carries specific, named clinical outcomes across three research areas, while Maqui XT® Powder offers the same general antioxidant compound family without a dedicated clinical claim of its own. Brands needing a specific, citable outcome should rely on Delphinol®'s published research rather than extending it to Maqui XT® Powder.
Can Maqui XT® Powder replace Delphinol® in a formulation?
It depends on what the product needs to claim. If the brand needs a specific, clinically substantiated outcome — glucose metabolism, skin elasticity, oxidative defense — Delphinol® is the ingredient with that data. If the brand needs a general-purpose, clean-label antioxidant without a specific health claim attached, Maqui XT® Powder is a practical, more flexible option.
Why does Delphinol® have research in so many different health areas?
Delphinol®'s multi-pathway mechanism — neutralizing reactive oxygen species, modulating PPARγ activity, and inhibiting α-glucosidase — is consistent with the range of outcomes observed across its clinical studies, from glucose metabolism to skin vitality. This breadth of research is the result of over 15 years of clinical and pre-clinical work, not a single study extended across categories.
Clinical studies cited
Alvarado J, et al. "Delphinidin-rich Maqui berry extract for prediabetic individuals: a pilot study." Panminerva Medica, 2016.
Addor FAS, Vieira JC, Melo CSA. "Improvement of dermal parameters in aged skin after oral use of a nutrient supplement." Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2018;11:195–201.
⚠ These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Delphinol® and Maqui XT® are nutraceutical ingredients supplied to manufacturers, not finished consumer products.