{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,24]],"date-time":"2026-10-24T01:11:35Z","timestamp":1792804295459,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":54,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,28]],"date-time":"2026-05-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1779926400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Fundamental Fund 2023, Chiang Mai University","award":["66A104000013"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["66A104000013"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/05m2fqn25","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"crossref"}]},{"award":["66A104000013"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["66A104000013"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/05m2fqn25","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Foods"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Corn husk, a prevalent agricultural byproduct, remains an underutilized source of bioactive compounds. This study investigated the influence of extraction solvents (water, 50% ethanol, and 95% ethanol) and techniques (maceration, reflux, ultrasound-assisted extraction) on the phytochemical profiles and biological activities of corn husk. The results revealed that water extraction produced the highest total phenolic content, whereas 95% ethanol extraction yielded the greatest total flavonoid content and the most potent antioxidant activity in DPPH testing. In contrast, ultrasound-assisted water extraction exhibited the most potent nitric oxide inhibition (94.62 \u00b1 2.13%) and tyrosinase inhibition (IC50 = 7.54 \u00b1 0.27 mg\/mL), indicating anti-inflammatory and skin-lightening potential. This extract showed anti-collagenase activity (91.49 \u00b1 4.01%), outperforming ascorbic acid (29.79 \u00b1 1.00%) and EGCG (82.27 \u00b1 1.00%), though its anti-hyaluronidase activity was limited. Cytotoxicity testing revealed cytotoxicity at 10 mg\/mL, while the HET-CAM assay confirmed non-irritation at the same level. These findings underscore that ultrasound-assisted water extraction is a safe and successful technique for obtaining bioactive-rich extracts. This study supports the transition of corn husk from agricultural waste to a high-value, safe, and multifunctional natural ingredient for the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and functional food industries.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/foods15111906","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,28]],"date-time":"2026-05-28T09:57:43Z","timestamp":1779962263000},"page":"1906","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Bioresource Potential and Safety Evaluations of Thai Zea mays L. Husk Waste Extracts"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Mathukorn","family":"Sainakham","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2868-7049","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Wantida","family":"Chaiyana","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4280-1079","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kanokwan","family":"Kiattisin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1801-6476","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Suvimol","family":"Somwongin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6324-4377","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Worrapan","family":"Poomanee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2213-8951","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Vanuchawan","family":"Wisuitiprot","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2069","DOI":"10.1007\/s10311-020-01059-w","article-title":"Strategies for mitigation of climate change: A review","volume":"18","author":"Fawzy","year":"2020","journal-title":"Environ. Chem. Lett."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"797","DOI":"10.1007\/s10311-020-01133-3","article-title":"Recent advances in carbon capture storage and utilisation technologies: A review","volume":"19","author":"Osman","year":"2021","journal-title":"Environ. Chem. Lett."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"82","DOI":"10.3390\/cosmetics2020082","article-title":"New Trends in Cosmetics: By-Products of Plant Origin and Their Potential Use as Cosmetic Active Ingredients","volume":"2","author":"Barbulova","year":"2015","journal-title":"Cosmetics"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"269","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tifs.2021.01.003","article-title":"The use of food by-products as a novel for functional foods: Their use as ingredients and for the encapsulation process","volume":"108","author":"Comunian","year":"2021","journal-title":"Trends Food Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107924","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fbio.2025.107924","article-title":"Synergistic enzymatic-ultrasonic extraction enhances yield and stability of yellow pigments from corn husk: A comparative study on extraction techniques","volume":"74","author":"Li","year":"2025","journal-title":"Food Biosci."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8125193","DOI":"10.1155\/2024\/8125193","article-title":"Corn Husk Ferulic Acid Induces Apoptosis of Breast Cancer Cells via ROS-Mediated Signaling Pathways","volume":"2024","author":"Sun","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Food Biochem."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"165","DOI":"10.14715\/cmb\/2021.67.1.25","article-title":"Evaluation of antidiabetic, antioxidant, and cytotoxic potential of maize (Zea mays L.) husk leaf extracts","volume":"67","author":"Riaz","year":"2021","journal-title":"Cell. Mol. Biol."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Roh, K.-B., Kim, H., Shin, S., Kim, Y.S., Lee, J.-A., Kim, M., Jung, E., Lee, J., and Park, D. (2016). Anti-inflammatory effects of Zea mays L. husk extracts. BMC Complement. Altern. Med., 16.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12906-016-1284-9"},{"key":"ref_9","first-page":"8943","article-title":"Bioactivity Determination and Development of Oil in Water Emulsion Containing Cassia fistula Bark Extract","volume":"18","author":"Mungmai","year":"2021","journal-title":"Walailak J. Sci. Technol. (WJST)"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103435","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sjbs.2022.103435","article-title":"In vitro bioactivities and preparation of nanoemulsion from coconut oil loaded Curcuma aromatica extracts for cosmeceutical delivery systems","volume":"29","author":"Wuttikul","year":"2022","journal-title":"Saudi J. Biol. Sci."},{"key":"ref_11","first-page":"100868","article-title":"Potential of green extraction using edible deep eutectic solvents on the bioactivities from Curcuma aromatica rhizome extracts for food application","volume":"14","author":"Sainakham","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Agric. Food Res."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"67","DOI":"10.26656\/fr.2017.5(2).465","article-title":"Potential of corncobs (Zea mays) fraction as tyrosinase inhibitor and natural antioxidant in vitro","volume":"5","author":"Dewi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Food Res."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Krzemi\u0144ska, A., Kwiatos, N., Arenhart Soares, F., and Steinb\u00fcchel, A. (2022). Theoretical Studies of Cyanophycin Dipeptides as Inhibitors of Tyrosinases. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 23.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms23063335"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Phumat, P., Chaichit, S., Potprommanee, S., Preedalikit, W., Sainakham, M., Poomanee, W., Chaiyana, W., and Kiattisin, K. (2023). Influence of Benincasa hispida Peel Extracts on Antioxidant and Anti-Aging Activities, including Molecular Docking Simulation. Foods, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/foods12193555"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2955","DOI":"10.2147\/IJN.S406864","article-title":"Enhanced Cosmeceutical Potentials of the Oil from Gryllus bimaculatus de Geer by Nanoemulsions","volume":"18","author":"Chaiyana","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int. J. Nanomed."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"32","DOI":"10.1016\/j.toxicon.2018.02.049","article-title":"Antioxidant activity and irritation property of venoms from Apis species","volume":"145","author":"Somwongin","year":"2018","journal-title":"Toxicon"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"43","DOI":"10.3390\/jfb5020043","article-title":"HaCaT Keratinocytes Response on Antimicrobial Atelocollagen Substrates: Extent of Cytotoxicity, Cell Viability and Proliferation","volume":"5","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Funct. Biomater."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e17101","DOI":"10.1111\/jfpp.17101","article-title":"Effects of different drying methods on phenolic composition and antioxidant activity in corn silk (Stigma maydis)","volume":"46","author":"Hu","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Food Process. Preserv."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105325","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ultsonch.2020.105325","article-title":"Ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) of bioactive compounds from fruit and vegetable processing by-products: A review","volume":"70","author":"Kumar","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ultrason. Sonochem."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"133","DOI":"10.1515\/pjfns-2017-0015","article-title":"Dietary Fiber Extraction from Defatted Corn Hull by Hot-Compressed Water","volume":"68","author":"Wang","year":"2018","journal-title":"Pol. J. Food Nutr. Sci."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"370","DOI":"10.1016\/j.carbpol.2017.01.092","article-title":"Physicochemical properties and antidiabetic effects of a polysaccharide from corn silk in high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice","volume":"164","author":"Pan","year":"2017","journal-title":"Carbohydr. Polym."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Oleszek, M., Kowalska, I., Bertuzzi, T., and Oleszek, W. (2023). Phytochemicals Derived from Agricultural Residues and Their Valuable Properties and Applications. Molecules, 28.","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules28010342"},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"Galanakis, C., Goulas, V., Tsakona, S., and Gekas, V. (2011, January 22\u201326). Predicting the solubilization preference of natural phenols to different solvents. Proceedings of the 11th International Congress on Engineering and Food, Athens, Greece."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sun, S., Yu, Y., Jo, Y., Han, J.H., Xue, Y., Cho, M., Bae, S.-J., Ryu, D., Park, W., and Ha, K.-T. (2025). Impact of extraction techniques on phytochemical composition and bioactivity of natural product mixtures. Front. Pharmacol., 16.","DOI":"10.3389\/fphar.2025.1615338"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"832","DOI":"10.1002\/jctb.4862","article-title":"Measurement of oxygen transfer from air into organic solvents","volume":"91","author":"Ramesh","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Chem. Technol. Biotechnol."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Antony, A., and Farid, M. (2022). Effect of Temperatures on Polyphenols during Extraction. Appl. Sci., 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/app12042107"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.2306\/scienceasia1513-1874.2025.053","article-title":"Thermal degradation kinetics of phenylbutanoids in Zingiber montanum extract and stability improvement by oil extraction","volume":"51","author":"Wisuitiprot","year":"2025","journal-title":"ScienceAsia"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"223","DOI":"10.1016\/S0963-9969(00)00156-3","article-title":"Determination of flavonols in green and black tea leaves and green tea infusions by high-performance liquid chromatography","volume":"34","author":"Wang","year":"2001","journal-title":"Food Res. Int."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wang, Z., Yang, S., Gao, Y., and Huang, J. (2022). Extraction and purification of antioxidative flavonoids from Chionanthus retusa leaf. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol., 10.","DOI":"10.3389\/fbioe.2022.1085562"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"131918","DOI":"10.1016\/j.foodchem.2021.131918","article-title":"Influence of the extraction method on the recovery of bioactive phenolic compounds from food industry by-products","volume":"378","author":"Romero","year":"2022","journal-title":"Food Chem."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"37","DOI":"10.1016\/S1872-2067(24)60028-8","article-title":"Unveiling the \u201csono-physico-chemical\u201d essence: Cavitation and vibration effects in ultrasound\u2013assisted processes","volume":"61","author":"Liu","year":"2024","journal-title":"Chin. J. Catal."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100509","DOI":"10.1016\/j.crfs.2023.100509","article-title":"The stability and degradation products of polyhydroxy flavonols in boiling water","volume":"6","author":"Lin","year":"2023","journal-title":"Curr. Res. Food Sci."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Liu, J., Guo, X., Yang, T., Wang, X., and Liang, Y. (2025). Study on the extraction and stability of total flavonoids from Millettia speciosa Champ. PLoS ONE, 20.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0326570"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"134","DOI":"10.3746\/pnf.2018.23.2.134","article-title":"Evaluation of In Vitro Antioxidant Activity of the Water Extract Obtained from Dried Pine Needle (Pinus densiflora)","volume":"23","author":"Kim","year":"2018","journal-title":"Prev. Nutr. Food Sci."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kiokias, S., and Oreopoulou, V. (2022). Review on the Antioxidant Activity of Phenolics in o\/w Emulsions along with the Impact of a Few Important Factors on Their Interfacial Behaviour. Colloids Interfaces, 6.","DOI":"10.3390\/colloids6040079"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"51","DOI":"10.1186\/s13020-018-0206-9","article-title":"The antityrosinase and antioxidant activities of flavonoids dominated by the number and location of phenolic hydroxyl groups","volume":"13","author":"Zuo","year":"2018","journal-title":"Chin. Med."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0749.2005.00288.x","article-title":"Tyrosinase maturation through the mammalian secretory pathway: Bringing color to life","volume":"19","author":"Wang","year":"2006","journal-title":"Pigment Cell Res."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"751","DOI":"10.1038\/sj.jid.5700683","article-title":"Approaches to identify inhibitors of melanin biosynthesis via the quality control of tyrosinase","volume":"127","author":"Ando","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Investig. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"135","DOI":"10.36348\/sjmps.2021.v07i02.010","article-title":"Understanding the Molecular Mechanism of Phytoconstituents as Tyrosinase Inhibitors for Treatment of Hyperpigmentation","volume":"7","author":"Kothapalli","year":"2021","journal-title":"Saudi J. Med. Pharm. Sci."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2808","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules19032808","article-title":"Inhibitory effect of corn silk on skin pigmentation","volume":"19","author":"Choi","year":"2014","journal-title":"Molecules"},{"key":"ref_41","first-page":"5","article-title":"Comparative Evaluation of Antityrosinase and Antioxidant Activities of Dietary Phenolics and their Activities in Melanoma Cells Exposed to UVA","volume":"66","author":"Thangboonjit","year":"2014","journal-title":"Siriraj Med. J."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"47","DOI":"10.24191\/IJPNaCS.v4.04","article-title":"Tyrosinase inhibition, antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of selected Mimosaceae pericarps ethanolic extracts","volume":"4","author":"Ramli","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Pharm. Nutraceuticals Cosmet. Sci."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2303259","DOI":"10.1002\/advs.202303259","article-title":"Nitric Oxide: Physiological Functions, Delivery, and Biomedical Applications","volume":"10","author":"Andrabi","year":"2023","journal-title":"Adv. Sci."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"748","DOI":"10.1006\/bbrc.1994.1764","article-title":"The nitric oxide-scavenging properties of Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761","volume":"201","author":"Marcocci","year":"1994","journal-title":"Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Cai, S., Mao, Y., Gu, Y., Huang, B., He, Z., Zeng, M., Wang, Z., Chen, Q., Tang, M., and Chen, J. (2024). Carotenoid and Phenolic Compositions and Antioxidant Activity of 23 Cultivars of Corn Grain and Corn Husk Extract. Foods, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/foods13213375"},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Srisuksomwong, P., Kaenhin, L., and Mungmai, L. (2023). Collagenase and Tyrosinase Inhibitory Activities and Stability of Facial Cream Formulation Containing Cashew Leaf Extract. Cosmetics, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/cosmetics10010017"},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"495","DOI":"10.1016\/0278-6915(86)90099-2","article-title":"The HET-CAM test: An alternative to the draize eye test","volume":"24","author":"Luepke","year":"1986","journal-title":"Food Chem. Toxicol."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"112229","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fct.2021.112229","article-title":"Comparison between HET-CAM protocols and a product use clinical study for eye irritation evaluation of personal care products including cosmetics according to their surfactant composition","volume":"153","author":"Rivero","year":"2021","journal-title":"Food Chem. Toxicol."},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"867","DOI":"10.1016\/S0278-6915(00)00091-0","article-title":"A modified HET-CAM assay approach to the assessment of anti-irritant properties of plant extracts","volume":"38","author":"Wilson","year":"2000","journal-title":"Food Chem. Toxicol."},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gilbert, D.F., and Friedrich, O. (2017). Basic Colorimetric Proliferation Assays: MTT, WST, and Resazurin. Cell Viability Assays: Methods and Protocols, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-1-4939-6960-9"},{"key":"ref_51","first-page":"1","article-title":"Preliminary phytochemical screening and scientific validation of the anti-diabetic effect of the dried husk of Zea mays L. (Corn, Poaceae)","volume":"7","author":"Brobbey","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int. J. Phytopharm."},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"84","DOI":"10.4103\/0973-7847.194044","article-title":"Overviews of Biological Importance of Quercetin: A Bioactive Flavonoid","volume":"10","author":"Arulmoli","year":"2016","journal-title":"Pharmacogn. Rev."},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2179","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fct.2007.05.015","article-title":"A critical review of the data related to the safety of quercetin and lack of evidence of in vivo toxicity, including lack of genotoxic\/carcinogenic properties","volume":"45","author":"Harwood","year":"2007","journal-title":"Food Chem. Toxicol."},{"key":"ref_54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"110985","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biopha.2020.110985","article-title":"Gallic acid: Pharmacological activities and molecular mechanisms involved in inflammation-related diseases","volume":"133","author":"Bai","year":"2021","journal-title":"Biomed. Pharmacother."}],"container-title":["Foods"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2304-8158\/15\/11\/1906\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,28]],"date-time":"2026-05-28T10:36:27Z","timestamp":1779964587000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2304-8158\/15\/11\/1906"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,28]]},"references-count":54,"journal-issue":{"issue":"11","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6]]}},"alternative-id":["foods15111906"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/foods15111906","relation":{},"ISSN":["2304-8158"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2304-8158","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,28]]}}}