A Review of Pharmacological Activities on Zea Mays

Zea mays (maize) is rich in bioactive compounds like flavonoids, phenolic acids, apigenin, luteolin, and polysaccharides, contributing to a wide range of pharmacological activities. These include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, cardiovascular, nephroprotective, antimicrobial, anticancer, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective effects. The main mechanisms are free radical scavenging, inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators, modulation of lipid and glucose metabolism, and induction of apoptosis in cancer cells. Corn silk extracts show notable benefits for blood glucose control, insulin sensitivity, and kidney protection. While Zea mays demonstrates a good safety profile, more research is needed to standardize extraction, measure active components, and develop reliable therapeutic products.