There are records of corn silk being used as medicine in ancient Chinese classics, and modern analysis technology has confirmed that it contains a variety of functional ingredients such as flavonoids, polysaccharides, saponins, flutesols, and polyphenols.
The plant flavonoid content in corn silk accounts for about 3% of the weight. Flavonoids are natural antioxidants and also have potential application value in scavenging free radicals, inhibiting bacteria, and regulating blood lipids. There are several polysaccharide components in corn silk. Through observation of experimental animals, it has been found that it has a certain effect in regulating blood sugar. In addition, corn silk polysaccharides also have diuretic and antioxidant activities. Corn silk soap is another active ingredient. Experiments on diabetic mice found that it also has the effect of lowering blood sugar and has few side effects.
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 β-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.
