Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice and Service 2025;43(2):51-58

doi:10.12206/j.issn.2097-2024.202309037

Flavonoids from Corn Silk (Zea mays L.) and its pharmacological effects

Licheng ZHOU 1 ; Yiming OU 1 ; Yuan WANG 1

Affiliations

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Keywords

corn silk; flavonoid; chemical constituents; pharmacological effects; safety

Country

China

Language

Chinese

Abstract

Corn silk, a Traditional Chinese Medicine, has the effect of calming liver, cholagogue, detumescence and diuresis. Corn silk is also widely used as tea and functional food. Natural flavonoids have multiple biological activities, which are also the main bioactive components of corn silk. In the past decade, many new advances have been made in the chemistry, analysis, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and safety evaluation of corn silk flavonoids. The chemical composition research of flavonoids has enriched the variety of flavonoids in corn silk. Pharmacological studies have confirmed and expanded the efficacy of corn silk flavonoids. And safety evaluation has provided a theoretical basis for the safe application of corn silk flavonoids. Through literature search, the extraction, separation, compositional analysis, content determination, pharmacological effect, pharmacokinetics, and safety research progress of corn silk flavonoids in the past ten years were reviewed in this paper.