Abstract

Corn silk is traditionally regarded as waste material, however recently is gaining much interest in Asian and African countries particularly due to its several health promoting effects. For instance, several corn silk-derived extracts and bioactive constituents have been demonstrated to exhibits antidiabetic, antihyperlipidaemic, antiobesity, anticancer, antihepatotoxicity, antinephrotoxicity and antimicrobial effects. Moreover, various studies have established that corn silk contains many bioactive compounds including proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, fixed and volatile oils, steroids, flavonoids and phenolic compounds which perhaps are responsible for the potential health benefit reported. Most of these bioactive compounds present in corn silk exhibited antioxidant properties and confers health beneficial effects against several chronic and age-related diseases including diabetes, hypertension, cancer, hepatic and cardiovascular diseases. In view of the fact that many studies have continuously investigated the potential health benefits of corn silk which was traditionally regarded as waste material, the present review principally examine various experimental reports in vitro and in vivo studies using PubMed and reputable indexed journals to highlights the potential health benefits of corn silk against chronic and age-linked diseases.