Stigma maydis: a concise overview on corn silk as potential therapeutic agent

Abstract

Corn silk has long been viewed as a waste item, but it has recently gained popularity in Asian and African countries owing to its numerous health-promoting properties. Many maize silk-derived extracts and bioactive components, for example, have been shown to have antidiabetic, antihyperlipidaemic, anticancer, antihepatotoxicity, antinephrotoxicity, and antimicrobial properties. Furthermore, numerous studies have shown that corn silk contains a variety of bioactive substances such as proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, fixed and volatile oils, steroids, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds, which may be responsible for the potential health benefits. The antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiproliferative actions of ethanol extracts of maize silk have been found to be effective due to the presence of numerous bioactive components. Maysin derived from maize silk extract contains luteolin, a physiologically active chemical with antioxidant and anticancer properties. This review will primarily examine various experimental reports of in vitro and in vivo studies to highlight the potential health benefits of corn silk against various diseases.