Corn silk Extract powder

• Product Detail

Product name	Corn silk Extract powder
Latin Name	Zea mays Linn.
Active ingredients	Sterols
synonyms	Barbe de Maïs, Blé d’Inde, Cheveux de Maïs, Indian Corn, Maidis Stigma, Maïs Violet, Maize Silk, Purple Corn, Seda de Maíz, Soie de Maïs, Stigma Maydis, Yu Mi Xiu, Zea, Zea mays.
Appearance	Brown fine powder
Part used	silk (Tassel)
Specification	Sterols 0.5%-1%HPLC/5:1TLC/10:1TLC/20:1TLC
Dosage	1500-2000mg daily
Main benefits	Antioxidant, anti-diabetes, hyperglycemia reduction
Applied industries	Medicine, food additive, dietary supplement, sports nutrition

What is Corn silk Extract powder?

Corn silk pertains to the thin, threadlike material found at the end of a corn husk. It ranges in color from light yellow to brown, and can reach more than a foot in length in some species of corn. As part of the corn plant, its main function is to catch pollen.

Corn silk is anti-inflammatory and protects and soothes the urinary tract and kidneys. It acts as a diuretic and increases the output of urine, without adding further irritation to an already inflamed system.

The sweet, slightly warm and neutral herb has been used in TCM to treat infection of bladder, difficulty in urination, edema, infectious jaundice, diabetes, hypertension, bladder stones, etc., as it resolves edema, clears Heat, soothes the Liver, treats hypotension, reduces glycemia, etc., by enhancing the function of kidney, liver and gall bladder channels.

Chemical constituents of Corn silk Extract powder

Corn silk Extract powder generally containsα-tocopherolguinone, β-sitosterol,Stigmasterol ,Benzoic acid,Citric acid,Tartaric acid, Oxalic acid,Maizenic acid ,Aflatoxin Etc.

Benefits of taking Corn silk Extract powder supplements:

Corn silk and antioxidant

>Comparative studies on the constituents, antioxidant and anticancer activities of extracts from different varieties of corn silk.

(Source-Tianjin Key Laboratory for Modern Drug Delivery & High-Efficiency, School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, P.R. China. )

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of varieties on the constituents, antioxidant and anticancer activities of corn silk. The contents of total phenolic and flavonoids and individual flavonoids in six corn silk varieties (Denghai6702, Delinong988, Tunyu808, Zhongdan909, Liangyu208, Jingke968) were comparatively analyzed by colourimetric methods, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods and antioxidant activities were assessed using a panel of in vitro assays, including 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity assay, the inhibitory effects on lipid peroxidation (MDA) assay and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, and the cytotoxicity against human prostatic carcinoma cells PC3 and breast carcinoma cells MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 were also evaluated. Results showed that Zhongdan909 exhibited the highest total phenolic content while Tunyu808 had the highest flavonoid content among the six species. Zhongdan909 showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity, the highest inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation and the strongest cytotoxicity against breast carcinoma cells MCF7, while Tunyu808 exhibited the highest reducing power. There were good relationships between the total phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activities (r > 0.78) and the cytotoxicity against breast carcinoma cells MCF7 (r > 0.79). This study suggested that corn silk could be potentially used as a readily accessible source of natural antioxidants and formononetin was one of the main antioxidant constituents in corn silk.

Corn silk Extract and antioxidant

>Comparison of anti-diabetic effects of polysaccharides from corn silk on normal and hyperglycemia rats.

(Source-College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, PR China.)

Abstract

Corn silk is well known and frequently used in traditional Chinese herbal medicines. Polysaccharides of corn silk (POCS), which were extracted by distilled water and precipitated by 80% ethanol solution, were evaluated for its anti-diabetic effect on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The results demonstrated that daily treatment with 100-500 mg/kg body weight of POCS on the diabetic rats could not only lead a significant decrease on the animal's blood glucose (BG) level, but also reduce the serum lipid level including total cholesterol (TC) and total triglyceride (TG) after determination. The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was also performed to evaluate hypoglycemic effects. Through the measurements of measuring autonomic activity times and rolling stick times, the results also exhibited that the animals had been depressed by dimethyl-biguanide, but protected by the POCS. The POCS showed good antidepressant activity and lengthened remarkably the activity time during the autonomic activities test and exhibited a dose dependent activity.

Corn silk Extract and glycaemic metabolism

>The effects of corn silk on glycaemic metabolism.

(Source-Molecular Biology Laboratory of Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, PR China.)

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Corn silk contains proteins, vitamins, carbohydrates, Ca, K, Mg and Na salts, fixed and volatile oils, steroids such as sitosterol and stigmasterol, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, and flavonoids. Base on folk remedies, corn silk has been used as an oral antidiabetic agent in China for decades. However, the hypoglycemic activity of it has not yet been understood in terms of modern pharmacological concepts. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of corn silk on glycaemic metabolism.

METHODS:

Alloxan and adrenalin induced hyperglycemic mice were used in the study. The effects of corn silk on blood glucose, glycohemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin secretion, damaged pancreatic beta-cells, hepatic glycogen and gluconeogenesis in hyperglycemic mice were studied respectively.

RESULTS:

After the mice were orally administered with corn silk extract, the blood glucose and the HbA1c were significantly decreased in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic mice (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, respectively), while the level of insulin secretionn was markedly elevated in alloxa-induced hyperglycemic mice (p < 0.05). The alloxan-damaged pancreatic beta-cells of the mice were partly recovered gradually after the mice were administered with corn silk extract 15 days later. Also, the body weight of the alloxan-induced hyperglycemic mice was increased gradually. However, ascension of blood glucose induced by adrenalin and gluconeogenesis induced by L-alanine were not inhibited by corn silk extract treatment (p > 0.05). Although corn silk extract increased the level of hepatic glycogen in the alloxan-induced hyperglycemic mice, there was no significant difference between them and that of the control group(p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

Corn silk extract markedly reduced hyperglycemia in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. The action of corn silk extract on glycaemic metabolism is not via increasing glycogen and inhibiting gluconeogenesis but through increasing insulin level as well as recovering the injured beta-cells. The results suggest that corn silk extract may be used as a hypoglycemic food or medicine for hyperglycemic people in terms of this modern pharmacological study.

Corn silk Extract and glycaemic metabolism

>Anti-inflammation effects of corn silk in a rat model of carrageenin-induced pleurisy.

(Source-Department of Respiratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical College Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, People's Republic of China.)

Abstract

Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleural layers that surround the lungs. Despite much research into inflammatory diseases, no drugs with favorable safety profiles are available yet for their treatment. Corn silk has been used in many parts of the world for the treatment of edema, cystitis, gout, kidney stones nephritis, and prostitutes. However, no scientific reports on the anti-inflammatory effects of corn silk were so far available. To test the anti-inflammatory efficacy of corn silk extract (CSEX) in a rat model of carrageenin (Cg)-induced pleurisy, exudate formation, and cellular infiltration, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), vascular endothelial growth factor alpha (VEGF-α), interleukin-17 (IL-17), C3 and C4 complement protein levels, adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) levels, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation, and total antioxidant activity were studied, respectively. Pretreatment with CSEX reduced Cg-induced pleurisy exudate, number of leukocytes, oxidative stress, C3 protein level, and O (2)(-) levels at the inflammatory site. Pretreatment with CSEX also inhibited TNF-α, IL-1β, VEGF-α, and IL-17A and blocked inflammation-related events (ICAM-1 and iNOS) by activation of NF-κB. Supplementation with CSEX may be a promising treatment for inflammatory diseases that involve oxidative stress.

Other

>Corn silk (Stigma maydis) in healthcare: a phytochemical and pharmacological review.

Hasanudin K, Hashim P, Mustafa S.

(Source-Halal Product Research Institute, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Putra Infoport, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.)

Abstract

Corn silk (Stigma maydis) is an important herb used traditionally by the Chinese, and Native Americans to treat many diseases. It is also used as traditional medicine in many parts of the world such as Turkey, United States and France. Its potential antioxidant and healthcare applications as diuretic agent, in hyperglycemia reduction, as anti-depressant and anti-fatigue use have been claimed in several reports. Other uses of corn silk include teas and supplements to treat urinary related problems. The potential use is very much related to its properties and mechanism of action of its plant's bioactive constituents such as flavonoids and terpenoids. As such, this review will cover the research findings on the potential applications of corn silk in healthcare which include its phytochemical and pharmacological activities. In addition, the botanical description and its toxicological studies are also included.

Home of Kyle J. Norton for The Better of Living & Living Health Yu Mi Xu is also known as Corn Silk. The sweet, slightly warm and neutral herb has been used in TCM to treat infection of bladder, difficulty in urination, edema, infectious jaundice, diabetes, hypertension, bladder stones, etc., as it resolves edema, clears Heat, soothes the Liver, treats hypotension, reduces glycemia, etc., by enhancing the function of kidney, liver and gall bladder channels.

Side effects and safety of Corn silk Extract powder

>Subchronic toxicity study of corn silk with rats.

(Source-Laboratory of Nutrition and Functional Food, Jilin University, Xi'an Road 5333#, Changchun 130062, PR China.)

Abstract

AIM OF THIS STUDY:

Corn silk is a traditional herbal medicine in China, which has been used in many parts of the world for the treatment of edema as well as for cystitis, gout, kidney stones, nephritis, prostatitis and similar ailments. However, there is little scientific evidence about its safety. As a part of its safety assessment, a subchronic toxicity was performed in this paper.

METHODS:

The subchronic toxicity was investigated in male and female Wistar rats by dietary administration at concentrations of 0.5%, 2.0% and 8.0% (w/w) for 90 days. Overall health, body weight, food consumption, hematology, blood chemistry, organ weights, gross and microscopic appearance of tissues were compared between test and control groups.

RESULTS:

A number of significant differences were seen between groups, but none of them was considered to be adverse. Based on the present study, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of corn silk is at least 8.0% which corresponds to a mean daily corn silk intake of approximately 9.354 and 10.308 g/day/kg body weight for males and females, respectively.

CONCLUSION:

The results obtained in the present study suggest that consumption of corn silk has no adverse effects and support the safety of corn silk for humans.