Characterization of Corn Silk Extracts for Antioxidant and Physicochemical Profiles

Abstract

Corn silk (Zea mays L.), traditionally considered agricultural waste, and has emerged as a valuable source of bioactive compounds with significant antioxidant properties. This study aimed to characterize corn silk extracts for their antioxidant capacity and physicochemical profiles to evaluate their potential therapeutic applications. The research was conducted in Madhya Pradesh, India, employing various extraction methods and analytical techniques to determine the bioactive compound composition and antioxidant activities. Corn silk samples were subjected to different extraction techniques including water extraction, ethanol extraction, and ultrasound-assisted extraction. The physicochemical analysis revealed high protein content (15.29±1.23%), significant ash content (5.29±0.29%), and remarkable levels of bioactive compounds. The antioxidant evaluation demonstrated substantial total phenolic content ranging from 23.87±3.22 to 94.10±0.26 mg GAE/g extract and flavonoid content up to 163.93±0.83 mg QE/100g. Multiple antioxidant assays including DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP confirmed potent radical scavenging activities with values reaching 86.77±0.88% FRAP activity. The results indicate that corn silk extracts possess exceptional antioxidant properties attributed to their rich phytochemical composition, suggesting their potential application in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries for developing natural antioxidant products.