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CORN SILK
Source: Zea maysL. subsp.mays(Family
Poaceae or Gramineae).
Common/vernacular names:Stigmata may-
dis and zea.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Coarse erect annual with prop (adventitious)
roots near the ground and long sword-shaped
leaves, one at each node; up to 4 m high;
generally thought to be a native of tropical
America. Parts used are the long styles and
stigmata of the pistils called corn silk; the
dried product is normally used.
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
Corn silk is reported to contain 2.5% fats,
0.12% volatile oil, 3.8% gums, 2.7% resin,
1.15% bitter glucosidic substances, 3.18%
saponins, 0.05% alkaloids, cryptoxanthin, vi-
tamins C and K, sitosterol, stigmasterol, plant
acids (malic, tartaric, etc.), anthocyanins, and
others (JIANGSU).1,2
PHARMACOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL
ACTIVITIES
Corn silk has diuretic, hypoglycemic, and
hypotensive activities in experimental ani-
mals. A dialyzed methanol-insoluble frac-
tion of its aqueous extract has been demon-
strated to be strongly diuretic in humans
and rabbits; the toxicity of this fraction was
low when compared with its effective dose.
Lethal intravenous dose in rabbits was
250 mg/kg, while effective dose was
1.5 mg/kg (JIANGSU).
A crystalline constituent from an aqueous
extract of corn silk has also been reported to be
hypotensive and to stimulate uterine contrac-
tion in rabbits.^3
Corn silk and its aqueous extracts are also
reported to be effective in kidney and other
diseases during clinical trials (JIANGSU).
Corn silk 229
