Antimicrobial activity, antiproliferative activity, amylase promotion activity and phytochemical analysis of ethanol extract of corn (Zea maysL.) silk

In this study, ethanolic extract of Zea maysL was utilized against isolated urinary tract infection causing bacteria and vegetable spoilage causing fungi and also used to analyze anticancer activity. The antimicrobial activity of ethanol extracts of corn silk was determined by the agar well diffusion method against UTI pathogens. The most effective antibacterial activity of ethanol corn silk extract was 900 μg. The most effective antifungal activity of ethanol corn silk extract was found against Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavusand Aspergillus brasiliensis. The fungicidal concentration has been controlled to a minimum extent at 2mg/20ml for all isolated fungi. It showed 75 % nitric oxide inhibition activity and 67 %. amylase promoting activity. GC-MS analysis showed several bio active compounds with antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer activities etc.