The season for fresh maize is around the corner and with it comes corn silk that many see as a waste and nuisance. But, corn silk is much more than this. In fact, corn silk is a folk remedy for diabetes in China for decades.

Wondering if there is any basis for its use in the treatment of diabetes? Well, a new study by researchers, which investigated the effects of corn silk on sugar blood regulation, insulin secretion and damaged â-cells of the pancreas that produce insulin in the body, reported that corn silk extract may be used as a blood sugar-lowering food or medicine for people with diabetes.

The researchers trying out the corn silk extract in animals  linked the effectiveness of corn silk extract  to the extract helping to boost insulin production as well as supporting the recovery of the injured â-cells of the pancreas.

The corn plant is a common annual plant. It can grow up to 10 feet high. Female flowers produce corn.

Corn silk refers to the stigmas from the female flowers of maize and it is harvested at the same time as the corn cob. Fresh corn silk resembles soft silk threads 10-20 cm long that are either light green or yellow-brown in color. Corn silk contains many things, including proteins, vitamins, carbohydrates, calcium, potassium, magnesium and sodium salts, fixed and volatile oils, steroids, alkaloids and flavonoids.

There have been many reports on the medicinal uses of corn silk constituents. Volatile oils from corn silk prevent the growth of Aspergillus flavus, indicating that it has an antifungal activity. Corn silk has been used in many parts of the world for the treatment of gout, kidney stones nephritis and prostatitis.

For the 2009 study documented in the journal, Nutrition & Metabolism, the researchers briefly dried corn silk at room temperature before extracting its water extract was prepared by boiling 10gm of corn silk in 100 ml of water.

One hundred mice were used for the laboratory assessment of the water extract of corn silk in the control of sugar level in the blood. Their blood samples, body weight, insulin level in the blood as well as the condition of the pancreas were assessed both in those that were induced to develop diabetes and those that served as control.

The study found an increase in body weight in animals that were induced to have diabetes when corn silk extract was used, indicating that corn silk could act as supplement nutrients to mice.

They found that the level of blood glucose decreased in a ration corresponding to the amount of corn extract administered. They reported:”

It is possible that corn silk extract could aid in releasing insulin from the surviving â-cells, as well from the recovered â-cells by corn silk extract. The â-cells of the mice fed with corn silk extract were partially recovered.“

Although  death of cells of the pancreas that produce insulin and the alteration of there population were prominent in the diabetic mice , they wrote that in contrast, the cell damage was not observed in the pancreas of the corn silk extract fed to mice in spite of the alloxan treatment to make them become diabetic.

In addition, they found that the liver of animals that had corn silk extracts were able to store sugar better. Storage of sugar in the liver is another way to maintain blood glucose concentration in mammals.

Corn silk has detoxifying, relaxing and diuretic activity. Its high concentration of potassium (Vitamin K) makes it a powerful diuretic that encourages the body to flush out toxins by increasing urination. Corn silk is used to treat infections of the urinary and genital system, such as cystitis, prostatitis and urethritis.

According to 2006 study in the journal, Phytotherapy Research aimed at assessing the influence of corn silk on kidney stones, its usefulness in preventing and treating kidney stones, was clearly dependent on the diet.

In China, corn silk is traditionally used to treat oedema and jaundice. Studies indicate that corn silk can reduce blood clotting time and reduce high blood pressure. Also, it helps to reduce frequent urination caused by irritation of the bladder and is used to treat bed wetting problems.

Research has shown that corn silk may cause the production of bile and improve liver function. Chinese research has shown that corn silk can also be helpful in treating high blood pressure and improve blood-clotting. It is high in vitamin K, and was used for hemorrhage during childbirth. It has also been used to treat gonorrhea. It can be made into a poultice for treating boils and sores.

In France, it has been used traditionally to stimulate weight loss. Some other benefits of this extract include its being used to help with the symptoms of arthritis and gout (a painful inflammation caused by defects in uric acid metabolism resulting in deposits of the acid and its salts in the blood and joints).

In addition, corn silk has some nonmedical uses. Corn silk is an ingredient in cosmetic face powder and hand lotion. It is believed to be soothing to the skin.

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