Bioactive Potential of Baby Corn Silk: in-vitro Evaluation of Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Anti-diabetic, and Anti-gout Activities

Abstract Purpose To analyse phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, antimicrobial activity and α-amylase, α-glucosidase and xanthine oxidase inhibitory potential of corn silk extracts derived from the Syngenta 5414 corn variety. Methods Corn silk sample was lyophilized and extracted using 80% ethanol, methanol, water or acetone. Phytochemicals were qualitatively screened and bioactive compounds were identified through GCMS. Antimicrobial activities were evaluated using the agar well method for bacteria and fungal biomass method for fungi. The extracts were subjected to evaluation for their antidiabetic activity through α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory assays, while their anti-gout potential was assessed through xanthine oxidase inhibitory assay, encompassing all four solvent extracts in the study. Results Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenols, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, sterols, protein xanthoproteic, and cardiac glycosides in the extracts. The Folin-Ciocalteu and AlCl3 assays demonstrated higher yields of phenolics and flavonoids in 80% ethanolic extract. Furthermore, the extracts remarkably scavenged reactive oxygen species like DPPH, ABTS and elicited considerable ferric ion reducing antioxidant power. GC-MS analysis identified 21 compounds in the 80% ethanolic extract, with 1,2,3-Propanetriol-1-acetate, n-Hexadecanoic acid, and 4H-Pyran-4-one,2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl- as major components. Antimicrobial assays demonstrated the ethanolic (80%) and methanolic extract's remarkable ability to inhibit the growth of Gram-positive bacteria and exhibit anti-fungal properties. The ethanolic (80%) extract exhibited an IC50 value of 0.70 ± 0.02 and 0.71 ± 0.01 mg against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, respectively, and 33.76 ± 0.43 mg against xanthine oxidase. Conclusion Corn silk exhibits potential as a valuable reservoir of natural bioactive compounds endowed with a wide array of health-promoting properties.