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DESCRIPTION:
Corn Silk Extract is the long shiny fibers at the top of an ordinary ear of corn (Zea mays).
It's often discarded as waste but is also used in medicine.
Corn Silk Extract contains proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Corn Silk Extract also contains chemicals that might have antioxidant effects, reduce blood pressure, and alter blood sugar levels.
People use corn silk for chest pain, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Corn silk (Stigma maydis) is the layer of glossy, thread-like strands found between the corn husk and ear.
An ear of corn may have 300 to 600 corn silks.
They’re a key part of the vegetable’s reproductive system and essential to crop pollination.
The fibers trap the pollen that fertilizes the cob and helps kernels grow.
Along with the husk, corn silk also protects kernels, helping the ear of corn retain its moisture and sweetness.
The long shiny fibers at the top of an ear of corn are called corn silk.
Corn Silk Extract is used as a medicine.
Corn Silk Extract is used for bladder infections, inflammation of the urinary system, inflammation of the prostate, kidney stones, and bedwetting.
Corn Silk Extract is also used to treat congestive heart failure, diabetes, high blood pressure, fatigue, and high cholesterol levels.
HOW DOES CORN SILK EXTRACT WORK?
Corn Silk Extract contains proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Corn Silk Extract also contains chemicals which might work like water pills (diuretics), and it might alter blood sugar levels, and help reduce inflammation.
Uses
Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...
Bedwetting.
Bladder infections.
Inflammation of the prostate.
Inflammation of the urinary system.
Kidney stones.
Congestive heart failure.
Diabetes.
Fatigue.
High blood pressure.
High cholesterol levels.
Other conditions.
Corn Silk Extract is a thread-like fiber found at the top of corn cobs.
They are not usually eaten but are used by some as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and herbal remedy for certain conditions.
Corn Silk Extract is the long, silky threads that grow on corncobs.
Though it’s often discarded when corn is prepared for eating, it may have several medicinal applications.
As an herbal remedy, corn silk has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese and Native American medicine.
It’s still used today in many countries, including China, France, Turkey, and the United States.
WHAT IS CORN SILK EXTRACT, AND HOW IS CORN SILK EXTRACT USED?
Corn Silk Extract is the long, thread-like strands of plant material that grow underneath the husk of a fresh ear of corn.
These shiny, thin fibers aid the pollination and growth of corn, but they’re also used in traditional herbal medicine practices.
Corn silk contains a variety of plant compounds that may be responsible for various health effects.
In traditional Chinese and Native American medicine, it’s used to treat a variety of ailments, including prostate problems, malaria, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and heart disease.
More recent research indicates that it may also help reduce blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and inflammation.
Corn silk may be used fresh but is often dried before being consumed as a tea or extract. It may also be taken as a pill.
POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF CORN SILK EXTRACT
Although corn silk is routinely used in herbal medicine, studies on it are limited.
However, preliminary research suggests that it may have health benefits, especially for certain types of inflammatory conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
Provides antioxidants
Antioxidants are plant compounds that protect your body’s cells against free radical damage and oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress is one of the major causes of a number of chronic conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and inflammation.
Corn Silk Extract is a naturally rich source of flavonoid antioxidants.
Corn Silk Extract also contains various other antioxidants like:
sterols
saponins
allantoin
alkaloid
vitamin K
vitamin C
polyphenols
Tannins
In some areas, Corn Silk Extract is used as a diuretic, and in other areas, it is used to treat bladder disorders.
Has anti-inflammatory properties
Inflammation is part of your body’s natural immune response.
However, excessive inflammation is linked to a variety of illnesses, including heart disease and diabetes.
A 2022 studyTrusted Source on Mongolian gerbils found that corn silk may help to prevent stroke due in part to its ability to reduce inflammation.
Another animal study from 2024 also found that corn silk had an anti-inflammatory response in mice.
This stringy plant fiber also contains magnesium, which helps regulate your body’s inflammatory response.
The results of these studies cannot be directly applied to humans, however.
Clinical human trials are needed to verify the results and the anti-inflammatory nature of corn silk.
May manage blood sugar
Some research indicates that corn silk may lower blood sugar and help manage diabetes symptoms.
One animal study from 2024 on mice with type 1 diabetes showed that corn silk may help reduce gut microbiota and intestinal inflammation that are associated with the condition.
It also noted that corn silk may be a potential therapeutic option for type 1 diabetes.
A review from 2023 also notes that was shown to increase the production of insulin in rats.
It also helped to recover damage to the pancreas and control blood sugar levels in the rats.
This means that corn silk may help to prevent hyperglycemia, which is an unusually high concentration of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
Although these results are promising, human studies are needed.
May lower blood pressure
Corn silk may be an effective treatment for high blood pressure.
First, it encourages the elimination of excess fluid from your body.
As such, it could be a natural alternative to prescribed diuretics, which are often used to reduce blood pressure.
A systemic review and meta-analysis from 2019Trusted Source also found that corn silk tea combined with typical hypertensive treatments may be more effective than the traditional treatments on their own.
May reduce cholesterol
Corn silk may also lower cholesterol.
One animal study from 2020 found that mice given corn silk extract experienced significant reductions in total and LDL (bad) cholesterol alongside increases in HDL (good) cholesterol.
In an animal study from 2016Trusted Source on mice fed a high fat diet, those that received corn silk experienced significantly lower total cholesterol than those that did not get this supplement.
WHAT NUTRIENTS ARE IN CORN SILK EXTRACT
Studies show that corn silk contains:
Carbohydrates.
Fiber.
Minerals like calcium, iron, sodium, potassium, zinc and chloride.
Protein.
CORN SILK EXTRACT BENEFITS
Despite centuries of herbal remedy use, there are limited studies on the health benefits of corn silk.
Much of the existing research took place on animals and not humans.
Still, certain studies suggest that consuming corn silk and related products may be good for your health.
Four benefits of corn silk for your health include:
1. Keeps your urinary system healthy
Corn silk extract can act as a powerful diuretic, making you pee more. “Increased urine flow can prevent the buildup of bacteria that leads to urinary tract infections (UTIs) and bladder infections,” says Campbell.
And if you do get a UTI or bladder infection, corn silk extract soothes inflammation to ease pain.
Increased urination can also help strengthen your bladder.
Healthcare providers sometimes recommend corn silk extract or teas for children experiencing bedwetting and adults with urinary incontinence.
Corn silk may also prevent kidney stones and protect against kidney damage caused by certain medications or cancer treatments.
The diuretic properties of corn silk may also lower blood pressure.
But Campbell cautions that people who already take diuretics or blood pressure medicine may be at risk for losing too much potassium.
This could lead to low blood potassium levels or hypokalemia. “Low potassium is concerning because it can affect the way your heart beats,” says Campbell. “It’s always important to check with your healthcare provider before taking a supplement.”
2. Fights inflammation
The plant pigment or flavonoid that gives corn silks their light green, yellow, brown or red colors is also an antioxidant.
In fact, corn silk has as much antioxidant value as vitamin C.
“Antioxidants protect against inflammation and the effects of aging, as well as diseases like cancer and diabetes,” notes Campbell.
3. Lowers blood sugar
Corn silk extracts are part of Native American and traditional Chinese medicine for diabetes management.
The extract may lower blood sugar levels and help prevent complications like diabetes-related neuropathy (nerve damage), according to one study.
Other studies indicate that corn silk extracts may slow your body’s absorption of starchy foods, preventing spikes in blood sugar.
But if you’re already taking medications to lower your blood sugar, Campbell advises checking with your provider before beginning to take a supplement. “Blood sugar that is too low can be dangerous, too.”
4. Improves cholesterol levels
The flavonoids in corn silk may improve your cholesterol numbers by lowering triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins (LDL).
“These unhealthy forms of cholesterol cause plaque deposits to form inside your arteries, increasing your risk of heart attacks and strokes,” Campbell explains.
CAN YOU EAT CORN SILK EXTRACT
Yes! Corn silk has a mild taste and a sweetness you would expect from corn.
You can save the silks after husking and use them fresh as a topping on salads, potatoes, soups, tacos and more.
You can also dry and store corn silk for up to one year.
To dry corn silk:
Separate the silk strands as much as possible.
Place the strands on a cooling rack out of direct sunlight until the water evaporates and the strands feel slightly crispy. (This drying step may take a few days or a week.)
Place the strands into a closed jar or paper bag and store in a cool, dry place.
You can grind the dried strands in a blender to make corn silk powder and sprinkle it onto eggs, salads, casseroles and smoothies.
To make corn silk tea:
Fill a pan with 2 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of fresh or dried corn silk.
Cover the pan and cook over medium heat until boiling.
Reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
Turn off the heat and let the tea simmer (still covered) for 30 minutes.
Use a strainer to filter out the strands.
Enjoy your tea hot or cold.
SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT CORN SILK EXTRACT
First aid measures:
Description of first aid measures:
General advice:
Consult a physician.
Show this safety data sheet to the doctor in attendance.
Move out of dangerous area:
If inhaled:
If breathed in, move person into fresh air.
If not breathing, give artificial respiration.
Consult a physician.
In case of skin contact:
Take off contaminated clothing and shoes immediately.
Wash off with soap and plenty of water.
Consult a physician.
In case of eye contact:
Rinse thoroughly with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes and consult a physician.
Continue rinsing eyes during transport to hospital.
If swallowed:
Do NOT induce vomiting.
Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.
Rinse mouth with water.
Consult a physician.
Firefighting measures:
Extinguishing media:
Suitable extinguishing media:
Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide.
Special hazards arising from the substance or mixture
Carbon oxides, Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Hydrogen chloride gas
Advice for firefighters:
Wear self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighting if necessary.
Accidental release measures:
Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures
Use personal protective equipment.
Avoid breathing vapours, mist or gas.
Evacuate personnel to safe areas.
Environmental precautions:
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so.
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up:
Soak up with inert absorbent material and dispose of as hazardous waste.
Keep in suitable, closed containers for disposal.
Handling and storage:
Precautions for safe handling:
Avoid inhalation of vapour or mist.
Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities:
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place.
Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage.
Storage class (TRGS 510): 8A: Combustible, corrosive hazardous materials
Exposure controls/personal protection:
Control parameters:
Components with workplace control parameters
Contains no substances with occupational exposure limit values.
Exposure controls:
Appropriate engineering controls:
Handle in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practice.
Wash hands before breaks and at the end of workday.
Personal protective equipment:
Eye/face protection:
Tightly fitting safety goggles.
Faceshield (8-inch minimum).
Use equipment for eye protection tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or EN 166(EU).
Skin protection:
Handle with gloves.
Gloves must be inspected prior to use.
Use proper glove
removal technique (without touching glove's outer surface) to avoid skin contact with this product.
Dispose of contaminated gloves after use in accordance with applicable laws and good laboratory practices.
Wash and dry hands.
Full contact:
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0.11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
Splash contact
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0.11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
It should not be construed as offering an approval for any specific use scenario.
Body Protection:
Complete suit protecting against chemicals, The type of protective equipment must be selected according to the concentration and amount of the dangerous substance at the specific workplace.
Respiratory protection:
Where risk assessment shows air-purifying respirators are appropriate use a fullface respirator with multi-purpose combination (US) or type ABEK (EN 14387) respirator cartridges as a backup to engineering controls.
If the respirator is the sole means of protection, use a full-face supplied air respirator.
Use respirators and components tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or CEN (EU).
Control of environmental exposure
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so.
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
Stability and reactivity:
Chemical stability:
Stable under recommended storage conditions.
Incompatible materials:
Strong oxidizing agents:
Hazardous decomposition products:
Hazardous decomposition products formed under fire conditions.
Carbon oxides, Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Hydrogen chloride gas.
Disposal considerations:
Waste treatment methods:
Product:
Offer surplus and non-recyclable solutions to a licensed disposal company.
Contact a licensed professional waste disposal service to dispose of this material.
Contaminated packaging:
Dispose of as unused product.
