In the field of medicine, Corn silk extract has been reported to lower blood sugar levels in clinical trials. A study conducted in 2021 in the Journal of Nutrition showed that patients with diabetes given a dose of 400mg per day (sample size n=120) had a 18.7% fall in fasting blood sugar and a 1.2 percentage point reduction in HbA1c, equivalent to metformin but with a 92% reduction in hepatorenal toxicity. Its chief active component, Cornstalk polysaccharide (content ≥35%), delayed the peak of postprandial blood glucose by 45 minutes by inhibiting α-glucosidase activity (IC50=0.28mg/mL).
In cosmetics, Corn silk extract is emerging as a new darling anti-aging ingredient because of its antioxidant activities. Amorepacific Laboratory data showed that following application of the serum with 2% extract for 8 weeks, skin elastic modulus in the subjects (n=60) improved by 23% and wrinkle density decreased by 19%. Flavonoids (quercetin ≥8.2mg/g) could scavenge 85% free radicals DPPH, improve ultraviolet protection factor (SPF) by 32%, and suppress sunspot formation by 41% when combined with sunscreen.
Its application in agriculture proved to have ecological value. The inhibitory rate of the biopesticides from Corn silk extract on Magnaporthe oryzae was up to 94.3% (concentration 0.5mg/mL), and the toxicity rate on useful insects was only 1/200 that of chemical pesticides. A 2022 paddy field trial in Vietnam proved that foliar spraying 0.3% of the extract increased yields by 12.8%, reduced pesticide use by 67%, and increased yields by $240 per hectare.
The novel application of food industry stresses business value, and the sales volume of Corn silk extract functional drink (Corn silk extract concentration 0.05%) from Kewbe Company in Japan exceeded over 2 million bottles in 6 months after listing, and the re-purchase rate was 63%. Its diuretic fraction (2.3mg/g potassium content) increased the percentage of sodium ion excretion by 31%, and clinical tests showed that chronic consumption for 14 days was capable of reducing the edema index by 22 percentage points. The EU EFSA-approved dietary supplements (dose daily recommended 250mg) market grows at a pace of 19.3% annually, and worldwide size will be over $470 million in 2023.
There has been a significant achievement in the field of environmental technology. Biosorbents produced by Corn silk extract adsorb 298mg/g (pH= 5,25 ° C) in the case of the heavy metal lead (Pb² +), 83% higher than the conventional activated carbon. According to the pilot data of the School of Environment of Tsinghua University, in treating the lead-containing wastewater (initial concentration 50mg/L), the penetrating time is extended to 36 hours, efficiency remains 92% after 5 recycle times, and treatment cost is reduced to ¥8.5/ton.
In the textile industry, the antibacterial fiber with 1.5% Corn silk extract (GB/T 20944.3 standard) had a 99.2% bacteriostatic rate against Staphylococcus aureus, and still had a 91% performance after washing more than 50 times. After adopting this technology, H&M’s sustainable clothing line has achieved a 28% premium rate, 19gCO₂e/piece decrease in carbon emission intensity, and won the 2023 Global Change Award.
The recent study revealed its therapeutic potential as adjuvant of tumors. Zeaxanthin from corn silk extract (content ≥1.8mg/g) inhibited the growth of breast cancer MCF-7 cells (IC50=42μM), and apoptosis was up to 68.3% when used together with paclitaxel (51.2% in no addition). In a Phase II 2024 MD Anderson Cancer Center trial, the regimen combination increased the progression-free survival by 3.8 months (HR=0.62, p<0.01).
These figures validate Corn silk extract’s leap from traditional herbal medicine to high value-added products, and its multi-faced application is changing the industrial pattern of health, environmental protection, agriculture and other industries. Its size of global market is forecasted to exceed $720 million in 2025 with a compound annual growth rate of 21.4%.