European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

CORN SILK: A REVIEW ON BOTANICAL AND HARMACOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Devleen Kaur, Divneet Kaur, Navpreet Kaur, Anuja Chopra, Poonam Arora*

ABSTRACT

The aim of the review is to demonstrate potential applications of corn silk and its pharmacological activities. Stigma maydis also known as corn silk is a plant used in medicine from the time of Ayurveda, the ancient system of Indian medicine. It is a yellowish thread like strand of female flower of maize belonging to Graminae family. Phytochemical constituents of corn silk include alkaloids, tannins, phytosterols, vitamin E & K, succinic acid, lactic acid, palmitic acid, proteins, vitamins, flavonoids, terpenoids, carbohydrates, calcium, magnesium and potassium salts. Potential use of corn silk is related to its properties and mechanism of action of its bioactive constituents such as flavonoids and terpenoids. Studies indicate that it possess antihypertensive, antioxidant, anticancer, antidepressant, kaliuretic, neuroprotective properties. This review will cover potential applications of corn silk in phytochemical and pharmacological fields. In addition, botanical description and toxicological study is also included.

Keywords: Stigma maydis, corn silk, flavonoids, FRAP assay, anti-hyperlipidemic, DPPH assay.