**8. Conclusion**

Corn silk has been traditionally used for the treatment of several ailments due to various pharmacological activities exhibited by its extracts. It has been found to possess antioxidant, antidiabetic, antiproliferative, antimutagenic, anticoagulant, antifungal, antiadipogenic, antiobesitic, antihypertensive, antihyperlipidemic, antilithiatic, antibiotic, antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and anti-fatigue activities [6, 11, 34, 38, 42, 43]. It has been also reported to possess antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, diuretic, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, and uricosuric activities [44, 45]. Corn silk has been investigated to activate the receptors for the binding of human peroxisome proliferator activators used in the treatment of diabetes [46]. Its methanolic extract has been found to be effective in thyroid dysfunction [47]. Corn silk extracts contain certain bioactive compounds which show immunomodulation activity [33, 48, 49]. Corn silk extracts have been also found to be effective in inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-α and adhesion of leukocytes to cell surface and induction of nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase in macrophages [50–52]. The chemically modified corn silk polysaccharides have been reported to show antioxidant and amylase inhibitory activities [14]. Recently, the studies have shown that corn silk has no cytotoxic effect, but the excessive use of corn silk may be cardiotoxic particularly in patients with compromised cardiac health [4]. The biological activities of various extracts of different parts of corn are

Methanol Anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, and antioxidant [81, 84]

Methanol Antioxidant activity in terms of free radical-scavenging and metal-

Ethanol Nephroprotective activity by dose-dependent increase antioxidant

reducing capacity

enzymes in diabetic rat

**Table 6.** Biological activities of extracts from various parts of corn.

**Activity Reference**

Antioxidant and anti-cataractogenic activity against diabetic cataract [39]

[18, 40]

[111]

Corn seed kernel is commonly used as nutritional purpose, but owing to its good phytochemical composition and biological properties, it has great medicinal value. The toxicological assessment of corn at various doses against various clinical parameters has proven it clinically nontoxic and can be used for nutritional and medicinal purposes [53]. Anthocyanins in purple waxy corn have been reported to be effective against diabetic cataract [39]. Corn silk is usually discarded as waste and not used for nutritional purpose. However, it has a great medicinal importance due to the presence of valuable bioactive phytochemical compounds. It has been traditionally used as an effective herbal remedy for the treatment of hyperglycemia, diabetes, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, hyperthyroidism, rheumatism, arthritis, gout,

presented in **Table 6**.

**Corn part**

Corn seed

Corn stem

Corn husk

**Extracting solvent**

58 Corn - Production and Human Health in Changing Climate

Aqueous alcohol

**6. Medicinal importance**

All parts of corn plant are good sources of phytochemical compounds which possess antioxidant potential. Corn seed have a valuable role in human nutrition, while corn silk has a great medicinal importance due the presence of a variety of bioactive phytochemical compounds. The principal phytochemicals present in corn silk include polyphenols, phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, glycosides, carotenoids, and some water-soluble vitamins. The presence of these phytochemicals makes corn a medicinal plant which shows various biological activities particularly the antioxidant activity. On the account of its high antioxidant potential, all parts of corn plant can be used for the management of oxidative stress and the treatment of various diseases.
