Phytochemical And Antidiabetic Studies On Methanolic Extract Of Corn Silk

Dried powder of corn silk was exhaustively extracted with methanol and the residue weighed. The chemical classes of constituents present in the extract were confirmed to be saponins, triterpenes, flavonoids, tannins, pseudo-tannins, alkaloids, volatile oils and glycosides. The LD50 of the extract was determined intraperitoneally in mice to be 3464.10 mg/kg. The blood sugar lowering effect of the extract was investigated in normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats. Glibenclamide treated animals were used as a positive control. The extract reduced the blood sugar levels of normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats. The reduction was more in alloxan induced diabetic rats than in normal rats. The reduction of the blood sugar level by the extract was comparable to that of glibenclamide. Reduction of the blood sugar levels by the extract in the alloxan induced diabetic rats lasted for 9 hours, the extract can be dosed twice a day. The extract is safe and even exhibited a comparable activity with that of glibenclamide; there is need for further work on corn silk for proper standardizations. Keywords: Corn silk, Acute toxicity, Phytocompounds, Antidiabetic, Methanolic extractPlant Product Research Journal Vol. 11 2007: pp. 16-18