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Maize is one of the most important crops for human and animal consumption and contains a chemical arsenal essential for survival: flavonoids. Moreover, flavonoids are well known for their beneficial effects on human health. In this review, we decided to organize the information about maize flavonoids into three sections. In the first section, we include updated information about the enzymatic pathway of maize flavonoids. We describe a total of twenty-one genes for the flavonoid pathway of maize. The first three genes participate in the general phenylpropanoid pathway. Four genes are common biosynthetic early genes for flavonoids, and fourteen are specific genes for the flavonoid subgroups, the anthocyanins, and flavone C-glycosides. The second section explains the tissue accumulation and regulation of flavonoids by environmental factors affecting the expression of the MYB-bHLH-WD40 (MBW) transcriptional complex. The study of transcription factors of the MBW complex is fundamental for understanding how the flavonoid profiles generate a palette of colors in the plant tissues. Finally, we also include an update of the biological activities of C3G, the major maize anthocyanin, including anticancer, antidiabetic, and antioxidant effects, among others. This review intends to disclose and integrate the existing knowledge regarding maize flavonoid pigmentation and its relevance in the human health sector.

Consistent with their reported abundance in soils, several Burkholderia sensu lato strains were isolated from the rhizosphere of maize plants cultivated at different sites in central México. Comparative analysis of their 16S rRNA gene sequences permitted their separation into three distinctive clades, which were further subdivided into six other clusters by their close resemblance to (1) Trinickia dinghuensis; (2) Paraburkholderia kirstenboschensis, P. graminis, P. dilworthii and P. rhynchosiae; (3) B. gladioli; (4) B. arboris; (5) B. contaminans, or (6) B. metallica representative species. Direct confrontation assays revealed that these strains inhibited the growth of pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici, and F. verticillioides within a roughly 3–55% inhibition range. The use of a DIESI-based non-targeted mass spectroscopy experimental strategy further indicated that this method is an option for rapid determination of the pathogen inhibitory capacity of Burkholderia sensu lato strains based solely on the analysis of their exometabolome. Furthermore, it showed that the highest anti-fungal activity observed in B. contaminans and B. arboris was associated with a distinctive abundance of certain m/z ions, some of which were identified as components of the ornbactin and pyochelin siderophores. These results highlight the chemical diversity of Burkholderia sensu lato bacteria and suggest that their capacity to inhibit the Fusarium-related infection of maize in suppressive soils is associated with siderophore synthesis.

Different maize ( Zea mays L.) varieties have been used for thousands of years as a healthy food source in Mesoamerica including pigmented maize. Maize ingestion could contribute to the reduction in the rate of non-communicable diseases and, in turn, to its function as an adjuvant in their management. These diseases are mainly associated with oxidative stress, which is characterized by a redox cell imbalance produced due to pro-oxidant molecules accumulation, inducing irreversible damages. Although the endogenous antioxidant defense system is efficient, exogenous antioxidants are necessary to help to prevent this damage. Bioactive compounds, like anthocyanins, contained in dietary plants exert a major activity against oxidative stress. Could the maize anthocyanins play a curative, preventive or complementary role in the treatment of chronic diseases? Here, we describe the occurrence of anthocyanins from pigmented maize and their chemical structures. Furthermore, the biosynthesis, bioavailability, and stability are also summarized. Finally, many in vitro and in vivo studies of maize anthocyanins are discussed that demonstrated their nutraceutical potential, antioxidant capacity, and other biological effects. Given the importance of the biological properties of maize anthocyanins, it is necessary to understand the current knowledge and propose further research or clinical studies which allows us to better elucidate the biological mechanism of maize anthocyanins derivatives of several varieties and processes of cooking and combination with other ingredients to enhance their nutritional and health benefits.

Continuous consumption of functional foods rich in antioxidants leads to several health benefits on non-communicable diseases. Pigmented maize, a traditional Mexican food, contains a high quantity of antioxidants. We determined the phytochemical composition of a raw and alkaline treated (nixtamal) blue hybrid maize (Zea mays L. var. E3E4) and investigated the effect of the nixtamal consumption on the liver oxidative stress and inflammation on rats fed a high-fat diet. We fed Wistar rats for eight weeks with standard diet, HFD, and HFD + Nixtamal. The nixtamalization process modified the chemical profile being cyanidin-3-O-glucoside the main anthocyanin compound (92.19%). Antioxidant capacity by ABTS (IC50 668.70 μg/mL) was increased. Sod1 gene expression and total liver antioxidant capacity were augmented after nixtamal treatment while MDA levels decreased. Histological analysis revealed a statistical reduced liver inflammation. Finally, our data suggest that maize’s anthocyanins counteract directly liver ROS, increasing Sod1, and ameliorate liver damage.