Antioxidative Activity of Five Flavones Glycosides from Corn Silk (Stigma maydis)

REN S.C., QIAO W.W., DING X.L. (2013): Antioxidative activity of five flavones glycosides from corn silk (Stigma maydis). Czech J. Food Sci., 31: 148-155. Five flavones glycosides (i.e., 2 ''-O-a-L-rhamnosy1-6-C-3 '' deoxyglucosyl-3'-methoxyluteolin, ax-5'-methane-3'-methoxymaysin, ax-4 ''-OH-3'-methoxymaysin, 6,4'-dihydroxy-3'-methoxyflavone-7-O-glucoside, and 7,4'-dihydroxy-3'-methoxyflavone-2 ''-O-alpha-L-rhamnosyl-6-C-fucoside) were successfully isolated from corn silk and identified. We evaluated their antioxidant activity among in vitro assay systems. Most of the flavones glycosides showed a high antioxidant activity in a lecithin liposome system, as well as a strong scavenging activity against radicals such as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide, and hydroxyl radicals. The study indicated that the corn silk flavonoids, especially 6, 4'-dihydroxy-3'-methoxyflavone-7-O-glucoside, may be beneficial natural food antioxidants.