eng Enviro Research Publishers Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science Journal 2347-467X 2322-0007 2026-05-04 14 2 26121 article Rita Singh Raghuvanshi 1 Apurva 1 Jyoti Singh 1 Department of Food and Nutrition, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, India Corn silk (Stigma maydis) is widely recognized in traditional medicine for its diuretic, hepatoprotective, and cardiometabolic benefits. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on its nutritional composition, functional properties, phytochemical constituents, pharmacological potential, safety profile, and industrial applicability. A structured literature survey was performed across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for publications from 2000-2025 using predefined keywords related to corn silk composition, bioactivity, and toxicology. Corn silk contains substantial dietary fibre (14–53 g/100 g), protein (12–17%), minerals, and bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, phytosterols, and polysaccharides. Its functional characteristics, particularly high swelling capacity (38.8–47.5 ml/g) and water-holding capacity (2.14–4.73 g/g), indicate suitability for fibre-enriched and moisture-retentive food matrices. Preclinical findings consistently demonstrate antioxidant, antidiabetic, diuretic, nephroprotective, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, and metabolic regulatory activities, although translation to human physiology remains unverified. Toxicity studies indicate overall safety at moderate doses, whereas high-dose ethanol extracts may induce hepatic perturbations. Given its broad bioactivity, low economic cost, and abundance as an agro-industrial by-product, corn silk represents a promising raw material for functional foods, nutraceuticals, and circular bioeconomy initiatives. Future progress requires standardized extraction protocols, dose–response evaluation, and rigorously designed human clinical trials. https://www.foodandnutritionjournal.org/volume14number2/exploring-the-potential-of-corn-silk-from-by-product-to-bioresource-through-its-nutritional-pharmacological-and-industrial-uses/ Agro-waste Valorization Corn Silk (Stigma maydis) Functional Properties Nutritional Composition Pharmacological Activities Phytochemicals