Abstract:
Corn silk is considered a waste in the manufacture of sweet corn and discarded by most industrialized food manufacturers. It is rarely utilized as raw food materials due to the lack of knowledge of its nutritional value and possible functional properties. However, both immature and mature corn silks are good sources of nutritional compositions. Corn silks are a bundle of silky, long and yellowish strands which could be seen on top of both baby corn and corn fruit. The utilization of corn silk for commercial production of functional food is worth exploring to convert waste agricultural products into value-added products. Corn silk is ground and used as a food additive and flavoring in several regions of the world. Corn silk has various essential nutritional substances including proteins, vitamins, carbohydrates, Ca, K, Mg and Na salts, fixed and volatile oils, steroids such as sitosterol and stigmasterol, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, some natural antioxidants and phytochemicals. These natural bioactive compounds confer health benefits which include protection against cardiovascular diseases (CV), cancer, degenerative diseases, stroke, obesity and other illnesses. Moreover, corn silk has been used traditionally as diuretic, antilithiatic, uricosuric and for curing cystitis, gout, kidney stones, nephritis and prostatitis. Corn silk flour can be added in little quantities to bread, cookies, cakes, etc to improve the nutritional aspects without affecting the original characteristics of the product. Corn silk can be ground and used as a dietary supplement. Scientifically, corn silk has been reported to exhibit a positive effect on glycemic metabolism by increasing the insulin level whereby the increase of insulin level and recovery of bcells were known to be the mechanism involved in the glycemic metabolism. So that, it has been consumed for a long time as a therapeutic remedy for various illnesses and is important as an alternative natural-based treatment. Corn silk improves blood pressure and supports liver functioning as well as producing bile. It reduces blood clotting time and acts as a good emollient for ulcer, wound and swelling. In some places decoction of corn silk and parched corn is extremely useful in nausea and vomiting. For medicinal purposes, corn silks have to be harvested just before pollination occurs and can be used in fresh or dried form.
Page(s):
131-131
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: International Food & Nutrition Conference" August 18th-20th, 2022, University of Swat, Swat (Book of Abstracts), Volume: 1, Issue: 1, Year: 2022
Keywords:
functional food
,
Food security
,
Polyphenols
,
Agro Industrial waste