Phytochemical composition and pharmacology potential of the corn silk Zea mays L. (Poaceae)

Abstract

This scoping review aims to examine the evidences related to the phytochemical and pharmacological analysis of corn silk and to identify the main gaps to inform future works. Searches were carried out in the databases PubMed, Scielo, Scopus e Science Direct. The keywords were “stigma maydis and phytochemical constituents”, corn silk and phytochemical constituents”, “stigma maydis and metabolites”, “corn silk and metabolites”, “stigma maydis and pharmacological activities” e “corn silk and pharmacological activities”. The scientific articles were selected following the eligibility criteria and full analysis of the articles. Of 233 identified results, 40 scientific articles met the inclusion criteria. Phytochemical studies evidenced several compounds in corn silk, highlighting the presence of flavonoids. It was identified that the extraction methods, analytical methods and solvents used are not standardized. Concerning to pharmacological properties, highlights the antioxidant, antidiabetic, and diuretic activity. It was concluded that corn silk has the potential to become a health product and yet it is a necessary that the analytical, extractive and production methods be standardized to ensure the quality of future intermediate and finished products corn silk based.