Corn silk

Corn silk is a common name for the shiny, thread-like, weak fibers that grow as part of ears of corn (maize); the tuft or tassel of silky fibers that protrude from the tip of the ear of corn. The ear is enclosed in modified leaves called husks. Each individual fiber is an elongated style, attached to an individual ovary.[1] The term probably originated somewhere between 1850 and 1855.[1]

Corn silk contains a variety of pharmacologically-active compounds, and as such is used in many types of folk medicine, including as a diuretic[2] and as an inhibitor of melanin production.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/corn-silk
  2. ↑ DARLING, JUANITA (1992-02-18). "Culture : For Mexicans, Growing Corn is a National Heritage : Seven thousand years of evolution have yielded an astonishing variety. For this nation, maize has deep symbolic values.". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
  3. ↑ Choi, Sang Yoon; Lee, Yeonmi; Kim, Sung Soo; Ju, Hyun Min; Baek, Ji Hwoon; Park, Chul-Soo; Lee, Dong-Hyuk (2014-03-03). "Inhibitory Effect of Corn Silk on Skin Pigmentation". Molecules 19 (3): 2808–2818. doi:10.3390/molecules19032808.

See also

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