Phytochemical and Nutritional Profile, Mineral Ratio and Mineral Safety Index of Young and Matured Corn Silk Collected from Ekiti State, Nigeria

Corn silk is an agricultural waste material from corn cultivation. The need for a supplement feed material that would be readily available, affordable and has nutritional qualities prompted this study. Fresh and dry corn silk were collected from a farm land in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria and evaluated for phytochemical and nutritional composition using standard techniques. The phytochemical analysis revealed that both the young and matured corn silk contained alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, phenols, steroids and reducing sugar. The qualitative phytochemical estimates showed high concentration of flavonoids and total phenols while tannins were found in moderate quantities. The proximate estimation (%) revealed high values of carbohydrate and crude fiber, moderate crude protein and ash, low crude fat, low moisture as well as high energy content in young and matured corn silk respectively. Both samples contained high K, P, Ca, Mg, moderate Na, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu while Pb and Ni, toxic metals, were absent. The results showed low mineral CV% which ranged from 1.32-38.92. The results of the mineral safety index were lower than the standard, an indication that there would be no mineral overload. The two corn silk samples were rich in active secondary metabolites which could offer protective health benefits, also safe and contained nutritional qualities that could make them suitable to be incorporated into man’s diet and domestic feed.