Corn Silk Extract is sourced from premium Northeast China corn silk, prepared by water extraction, ethanol precipitation, and spray drying processes. The saponin and flavonoid content are stable, making it an ideal raw material for diuretic and de-swelling products.

Product Description

Corn Silk Extract is a concentrated powder of characteristic active ingredients refined from specified botanical raw materials, with polysaccharides and flavonoids as the main active components. It meets quality standards of polysaccharides 10%-15%, offering multiple benefits including water metabolism support, edema relief, and blood sugar management. It is widely used in health supplements, functional foods, and personal care products.

Corn silk (Zea mays stigma) is one of the most widely used diuretic herbs in China, with production exceeding 10,000 metric tons annually. As a by-product of corn processing, the raw material cost is extremely low, giving corn silk extract strong price competitiveness in the global botanical ingredient market. Corn Silk Extract is particularly valued in the urology system health segment – positioned as a gentle, natural diuretic alternative to synthetic diuretics. Growing consumer demand for plant-based wellness solutions is on the rise, people are also showing growing preference for metabolic health products. This combined market trend has greatly expanded the application scope of corn silk extract, the ingredient has now moved far beyond its traditional uses, it is widely incorporated into modern functional food and supplement formulations.

Basic Information

Standard Specifications (COA)

The following specifications are reference values only; actual values are subject to each batch COA report.

Botanical Source Description

The raw material of this product is the dried stigma (silks) of Zea mays L. (Family: Poaceae). Corn silk is a by-product of corn processing, sourced from premium corn-growing regions in Northeast China. China is the world’s largest corn producer, with annual production exceeding 270 million metric tons, making corn silk an abundantly available and cost-effective raw material. Corn silk has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries as a diuretic and anti-inflammatory herb. It is included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (ChP 2020 Edition). In TCM theory, corn silk is sweet and neutral in nature, entering the liver, gallbladder, and bladder meridians. It is renowned for its ability to promote diuresis, reduce edema, clear heat, and resolve dampness – making it one of the most accessible and affordable botanical diuretics available.

Core Efficacy

Corn Silk (Zea mays stigma) extract has a solid research foundation in urinary system health and metabolic support. Its main constituents – quercetin, kaempferol, and potassium salts – exhibit diuretic, antihypertensive, and hypoglycemic effects. A clinical trial demonstrated that corn silk extract (500mg bid) for 4 weeks increased urine volume by 42% (P<0.001) and shortened edema resolution time by 35% (P<0.01) in patients with mild edema, without significant electrolyte disturbance. The flavonoid compounds in corn silk exert their diuretic effect by inhibiting renal tubular Na+/K+-ATPase activity (Na+ excretion increased by 38%, P<0.001). In terms of blood sugar management, corn silk aqueous extract (2g/kg/d, gavage) reduced fasting blood glucose by 25% (P<0.01) in diabetic rats, with mechanisms involving promotion of pancreatic β-cell regeneration and inhibition of α-glucosidase (IC50 = 22 μg/mL). Additionally, corn silk extract has demonstrated hepatoprotective effects – in CCl4-induced liver injury mice, ALT levels were reduced by 35% (P<0.001). The high potassium content in corn silk extract also supports cardiovascular health by promoting sodium excretion and helping maintain healthy blood pressure levels.

Regulatory & Regional Access Status

Note: Regulatory information is subject to change. Before export, please confirm the latest compliance requirements with the target market regulatory authority or professional consultant.

Application Directions & Recommended Dosage

Recommended Daily Dosage Reference

• Daily health maintenance: Standardised maize silk extract (concentrated at a ratio of 10:1). The recommended daily dose is 500-1,000 mg, taken in two divided doses with warm water. After taking continuously for 3-5 days, take a break of 1-2 days before resuming; avoid long-term, uninterrupted use.
• Supportive treatment scenarios (uric acid, oedema, blood glucose management): The daily dose may be increased to 1,000-1,500 mg, taken in 2-3 divided doses. This should be used solely as a supplement to the daily diet and must not replace clinical medication.
• Dosage adjustments for specific groups: Individuals with low blood pressure or a tendency towards diarrhoea should not exceed a daily dose of 500 mg; as there are no definitive safety data for use during pregnancy or whilst breastfeeding, self-administration is not recommended.

Other Precautions

• Corn Silk Extract has a mild diuretic effect; long-term use in high doses requires regular monitoring of electrolyte levels, such as serum potassium, to prevent hypokalaemia and associated weakness.
• When taken alongside antihypertensive or antidiabetic medicines, it may slightly enhance the effects of these drugs; doses should be adjusted under a doctor’s supervision to avoid discomfort associated with hypotension or hypoglycaemia.
• It is not recommended to take large doses on an empty stomach, as some individuals may experience adverse reactions such as dizziness, palpitations or mild gastric irritation.

Appendix: References

[1] Kim H.P. et al., Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2002; 79: 147-151. – Diuretic and hypoglycemic effects of Zea mays stigma.

[2] Liu F. et al., Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2014; 151: 682-688. – Antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of corn silk extract.

[3] Zhang H. et al., Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2016; 184: 235-242. – α-Glucosidase inhibition and blood glucose regulation by corn silk polysaccharides.

[4] Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission. Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China, 2020 Edition, Part I.

[5] WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants, Vol. 2, 2004. – Zea mays L. stigma monograph.

[6] Park S, Lee J, Kim H, et al. Acute and subacute toxicity evaluation of corn silk (Zea mays L.) 70% ethanol extract in Sprague-Dawley rats[J]. Toxicology Reports, 2023, 10: 456-463.

[7] Chen Y, Liu M, Wang H, et al. Uric acid-lowering effect of total flavonoids from corn silk in hyperuricemic mice via xanthine oxidase inhibition and renal urate transporters regulation[J]. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2024, 318: Article 117928.

[8] Zhang L, Li X, Zhou Y, et al. Optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction of polysaccharides from corn silk and its antioxidant and diuretic activities in vivo[J]. Journal of Food Biochemistry, 2025, 49(6): e15287.