Corn Silk in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology: Bioactive Compounds, Pharmacological Activities, and Mechanistic Insights

Corn silk (Zea mays L.), a resource traditionally regarded as an agricultural byproduct, has emerged in recent years as a focal point in natural product research. This review systematically outlines the chemical composition spectrum of corn silk, focusing on its diverse bioactive constituents, including flavonoids, polysaccharides, sterols, terpenoids, saponins, and organic acids. It further explores its multifaceted pharmacological value and therapeutic potential. These compounds exert multiple effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycaemic, hypolipidaemic, and antihypertensive actions through key signalling pathways such as NF-κB, Nrf2, PI3K/Akt, and FoxO1. Molecular docking and metabolomics studies have further elucidated the interactions between bioactive compounds in corn silk and disease-related targets. This evidence indicates that corn silk represents a promising natural therapeutic resource and a candidate for biotechnology applications in drug development. This review aims to provide a scientific foundation for future preclinical and translational research into corn silkbased therapeutic agents.