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Published on: April 23, 2012
Utilization of the By-Product of Corn: Guided Identification of Bioactive Terpenoids from Stigma Maydis (Corn Silk)
Wei-Yu Zhou1, Jia-Qi Niu1, Qian Li1
1Key Laboratory of Computational Chemistry-Based Natural Antitumor Drug Research & Development, Liaoning Province; Engineering Research Center of Natural Medicine Active Molecule Research & Development, Liaoning Province; Key Laboratory of Natural Bioactive Compounds Discovery & Modification, Shenyang; School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, China.
Abstract:
Stigma maydis (corn silk) (S. maydis) is a food-based by-product of maize and possesses great nutritional and pharmaceutical value. This study aimed to explore bioactive components from S. maydis. By the guidance of bioactivity-guided approach and Global Natural Products Social (GNPS) molecular networking, 12 terpenoids were discovered from S. maydis. The structures of 11 undescribed compounds (1-11) were determined by detailed spectroscopic analyses, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, specific rotation calculations, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations, and NMR calculations. The neuroprotective and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory effects of 1-12 were examined, and most of them showed significant or moderate activities. The underlying neuroprotective mechanism of 4 and 5 was revealed by Hoechst 33258, AO-EB, and JC-1 staining assays. This work illustrated the potential of S. maydis as a prospective natural source of bioactive compounds in food and pharmaceutical industries.
