Authors : Bilal A. Patel; Kunda Bhusari

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 2 - February

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/4vw8x6cs

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/42p5rppb

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26feb532

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Corn silk (Stigma maydis)—the thread-like styles found on the ears of Zea mays L.—has been widely used in traditional medicine by cultures across the world, including Native American, Chinese, Turkish and European communities. Traditionally, corn silk tea has been valued for its diuretic and healing properties and used to manage various ailments such as urinary tract infections, kidney stones, diabetes, hypertension and inflammation. Recent research has supported many of these uses, revealing that corn silk is rich in phytochemicals such as flavonoids, alkaloids, polyphenols, saponins, tannins and vitamins. These compounds exhibit diverse pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, diuretic Effect. This review aims to summarize current findings on the phytochemical composition and pharmacological potential of corn silk tea. It highlights its traditional applications, active constituents and therapeutic prospects, offering a scientific basis for its use in modern herbal medicine and functional beverages. corn silk (CS) is usually known for it's antioxidant capacity that Can prevent the oxidation process and it is being widely studied about its health-related Benefits (Rahman and Rosli, 2014). It has several bioactive compounds such as steroids, Alkaloids, anthocyanins, saponins, carotenoids and phenolic compounds which have Cooperative effects on physical heal. Many countries have been using corn silk for the Treatment of numerous health diseases such as prostate disorders, kidney stones, obesity, Urinary infections and bedwetting. It contain flavonoids that are also responsible for their antimicrobial property because they Dislocate the cell membrane in a way that denature bacterial proteins [1]. The presence of phenolic compounds, alkaloids, polyphenols, and steroids in the silk possesses an antiseptic and antimicrobial nature against some Particular sets of microorganisms. The ethanolic extract of corn silk has proven to Possess hypotensive effects and also act as a diuretic.

Keywords : Antimicrobial, Carotenoid, Anticarcinogenic, Anthocyanins, Antioxidant.

References :

1. Abirami S, Priyalakshmi M, Soundariya A, Samrot AV, Saigeetha S, Emilin RR. Antimicrobial activity, antiproliferative activity, amylase inhibitory activity and phytochemical analysis of ethanol extract of corn (Zea mays L.) silk. Current Research in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 2021;4:100089.
2. Aukkanit N, Kemngoen T, Ponharn N. Utilization of Corn Silk in Low Fat Meatballs and Its Characteristics. Procedia-Social and Behavioural Sciences. 2015;197:1403-1410. DOI: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.07.086.
3. Bhuvaneshwari K, Sivakami S. Analysis of nutrients and phytochemicals content in corn silk (Zea mays). International Journal of Science and Research; c2015. p. 79-81.
4. Chaturvedi AK. Extraction of neutraceuticals from plants by microwave assisted extraction. Systematic Reviews in Pharmacy. 2018;9(1):31-35.
5. Chen S, Chen H, Tian J, Wang Y, Xing L, Wang J. Chemical modification, antioxidant and α-amylase inhibitory activities of corn silk polysaccharides. Carbohydrate Polymers. 2013;98(1):428-437.
6. Chuo SC, Nasir HM, Mohd-Setapar SH, Mohamed SF, Ahmad A, Wani WA, Alarifi A. A Glimpse into the extraction methods of active compounds from plants. Critical Reviews in Analytical Chemistry; c2020. p. 1-30.
7. Corn production share worldwide by country, 2019/20 | Statista; c2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022, from:https://www.statista.com/statistics/254294/distribution-of-global-corn-production- by-country-2012/
8. Dardouk F, Arandi H, Makharzeh M. Extraction of Corn silk and its applications in healing and cosmetics’; c2019.
9. Elbossaty WF. Medical Healthy Care of Stigma maydis: Pharmacological Review; c2020.
10. Emmanuel SA, Olajide O, Abubakar S, Akiode SO, Etuk-Udo G. Chemical evaluation, free radical scavenging activities and antimicrobial evaluation of the methanolic extracts of corn silk (Zea mays). Journal of advances in Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2016;9(4):1-8.
11. Global Corn Silk Market Report and Forecast 2022-2027; 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022, from: https://www.expertmarketresearch.com/reports/corn-silk-market
12. Hasanudin K, Hashim P, Mustafa, S. Corn silk (Stigma maydis) in healthcare: A phytochemical and pharmacological review. Molecules. 2012;17(8):9697-9715.
13. Irawaty W, Ayucitra A, Indraswati N. Radical scavenging activity of various extracts and varieties of corn silk. ARPN J. Eng. Appl. Sci. 2018; 13:10-16.
14. Jiao Y, Chen HD, Han H, Chang Y. Development and Utilization of Corn Processing by- Products: A Review. Foods. 2022;11(22):3709.
15. Khodaei MM, Dehghan M. A green and cost-effective approach for the production of gold nanoparticles using corn silk extract: A recoverable catalyst for Suzuki-Miyaura reaction and adsorbent for removing of dye pollutants. Polyhedron. 2019; 162:219-231.
16. Krakowska-Sieprawska A, Kiełbasa A, Rafińska K, Ligor M, Buszewski B. Modern Methods of Pre-Treatment of Plant Material for the Extraction of Bioactive Compounds. Molecules. 2022;27(3):730.
17. Krusong W, Sriphochanart W, Suwapanich R, Mekkerdchoo O, Sriprom P, Wipatanawin A, Massa S. Healthy dried baby corn silk vinegar production and
18. Laeliocattleya RA. The potential of methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of corn silk (Zea mays L.) as sunscreen. In AIP Conference Proceedings (Vol. 2099, No. 1, p. 020012). AIP Publishing LLC; c2019 April.
19. Li Y, Hu Z, Wang X, Wu M, Zhou H, Zhang Y. Characterization of a polysaccharide with antioxidant and anti-cervical cancer potentials from the corn silk cultivated in Jilin province. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 2020; 155:1105-1113.
20. Ligor M, Ratiu IA, Kiełbasa A, Al‐Suod H, Buszewski B. Extraction approaches used for the determination of biologically active compounds (cyclitols, polyphenols and saponins) isolated from plant material. Electrophoresis. 2018;39(15):1860-1874.
21. Limmatvapirat C, Nateesathittarn C, Dechasathian K, Moohummad T, Chinajitphan P, Limmatvapirat S. Phytochemical analysis of baby corn silk extracts. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. 2020;11(3):344-351.
22. Mada SB, Sani L, Chechet GD. Corn silk from waste material to potential therapeutic agent: A mini review. Fuw Trend Sci Tech J. 2020; 5:816-820.
23. Makvandi P, Ali GW, Della Sala, F Abdel-Fattah WI, Borzacchiello A. Hyaluronic acid/corn silk extract based injectable Nanocomposites: A biomimetic antibacterial scaffold for bone tissue regeneration. Materials Science and Engineering: C. 2020; 107:110195.
24. Morshed S, Islam SM. Antimicrobial activity and phytochemical properties of corn (Zea mays L.) silk. SKUAST Journal of Research. 2015;17(1):8-14.
25. Okokon JE, Davies K, Nyong EE, Udoh AE. Anticonvulsant activity of corn silk (Stigma maydis). Journal of Basic Pharmacology and Toxicology. 2018;2(2):6-10.
26. Okorosaye-Orubite K, Ngobiri NC. Corn silk as corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in 0.1 M HCl medium. IOSR Journal of Applied Chemistry. 2017;10(3):51-60.
27. Oyabambi AO, Michael OS, Imam-Fulani AO, Babatunde SS, Oni KT, Sanni DO. Corn silk (Stigma maydis) aqueous extract attenuates high-salt induced glucose dysregulation and cardiac dyslipidemia: Involvement of phosphoinositide 3-kinase activities. Journal of African Association of Physiological Sciences. 2021;9(2):105-112.
28. Pashazadeh H, Zannou O, Ghellam M, Koca I, Galanakis CM, Aldawoud T. Optimization and Encapsulation of Phenolic Compounds Extracted from Maize Waste by Freeze-Drying, Spray-Drying, and Microwave-Drying Using Maltodextrin. Foods. 2021;10(6):1396.
29. Rahman NA, Rosli WIW. Nutritional compositions and antioxidative capacity of the silk obtained from immature and mature corn. Journal of King Saud University-Science. 2014;26(2):119-127.
30. Saheed S, Oladipipo AE, Abdulazeez AA, Olarewaju SA, Ismaila NO, Emmanuel IA, Aisha AY. Toxicological evaluations of Stigma maydis (corn silk) aqueous extract on hematological and lipid parameters in Wistar rats. Toxicology Reports. 2015; 2:638-644.
31. Saikaew K, Lertrat K, Ketthaisong D, Meenune M, Tangwongchai R. Influence of variety and maturity on bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of purple waxy corn (Zea mays L. var. ceratina). International Food Research Journal. 2018;25(5):1985-1995.
32. Sarepoua E, Tangwongchai R, Suriharn B, Lertrat K. Influence of variety and harvest maturity on phytochemical content in corn silk. Food Chemistry. 2015; 169:424-429.
33. Shi S, Li S, Li W, Xu H. Corn silk tea for hypertension: A systematic review and meta- analysis of randomized controlled trials. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine; c2019.
34. Singh A, Raghuvanshi RS. Development and evaluation of Value-Added fiber rich Laddoo supplemented with processed corn silk; c2021.
35. Singh A, Raghuvanshi RS, Bhatnagar A. Herbal tea formulation using different flavoured herbs with dried corn silk powder and its sensory and phytochemical analysis. Systems Microbiology and Bio manufacturing. 2021;1(3):336-343.
36. Singh J, Inbaraj BS, Kaur S, Rasane P, Nanda V. Phytochemical Analysis and Characterization of Corn Silk (Zea mays, G5417). Agronomy. 2022;12(4):777.
37. Singh J, Rasane P, Kaur S, Nanda V. Comparative analysis of antioxidant potential and techno-functional properties of selected corn silk varieties at different developmental stages. Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization; c2022. p. 1-14.
38. Singh J, Rasane P, Nanda V, Kaur S. Bioactive compounds of corn silk and their role in management of glycaemic response. Journal of Food Science and Technology; c2022. p. 1-16.
39. Singh J, Sharma B, Madaan M, Sharma P, Kaur T, Kaur N, Rasane P. Chia seed-based nutri bar: Optimization, analysis and shelf life. Current Science. 2020;118(9):1394-1400.
40. Smorowska AJ, Żołnierczyk AK, Nawirska-Olszańska A, Sowiński J, Szumny A. Nutritional properties and in vitro antidiabetic activities of blue and yellow corn extracts: A comparative study. Journal of Food Quality; c2021. p. 1-10.
41. Somavat P, Kumar D, Singh V. Techno-economic feasibility analysis of blue and purple corn processing for anthocyanin extraction and ethanol production using modified dry grind process. Industrial crops and products. 2018; 115:78-87.
42. Tao H, Chen X, Du Z, Ding K. Corn silk crude polysaccharide exerts anti-pancreatic cancer activity by blocking the EGFR/PI3K/AKT/CREB signalling pathway. Food & Function. 2020;11(8):6961-6970.
43. Thaiwong N. Drying temperature of corn silk tea: physical properties, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and flavonoid content. Food and Applied Bioscience Journal. 2020;8(3):38-48.
44. Vijitha TP, Saranya D. Corn Silk-A medicinal boon. Intern. J. Chem. Tech. Research. 2017;10(10):129-137.
45. Wang J, Hu X. Research on corn production efficiency and influencing factors of typical farms: Based on data from 12 corn-producing countries from 2012 to 2019. PLoS ONE. 2021;16(7): e0254423.
46. Wang B, Xiao T, Ruan J, Liu W. Beneficial effects of corn silk on metabolic syndrome. Current Pharmaceutical Design. 2017;23(34):5097-5103.
47. WI WR, Nurhanan AR. Dehydrated Maydis stigma enhances nutritional and ant oxidative capacities of butter cookies. Advances in Environmental Biology. 2015;9(27):192-198.
48. Rezayati S, Sheikholeslami-Farahani F, Hossaini Z, Hajinasiri R, Afshari Sharif Abad S. Regioselctive thiocyanation of aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds using a novel bronsted acidic ionic liquid. Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening. 2016 Nov 1;19(9):720-727.
49. Stoecklin, G.; Lu, M.; Rattenbacher, B.; Moroni, C. A constitutive decay element promotes tumor necrosis factor alpha mRNA degradation via an AU-rich element-independent pathway. Mol. Cell. Biol. 2003, 23, 3506–3515.