ZEA MAYS LINN AND CORN SILK: A PHYTO-PHARMACOLOGICAL REVIEW AND ITS UTILIZATION IN UNANI MEDICINE

Herbal medicine is the source of primary health care due to its cultural acceptability and better compatibility with the human body and lesser side effects. Resha-e-Makka (Zea mays) is an important medicinal plant in the Unani system of medicine (USM) due to its multiple therapeutic properties. The review has been reviewed, compiled, and analyzed using references from major databases like classical text and indexed journals. The plant is known to treat different systemic ailments due to the presence of Saponins 3%, Alkaloid, Bitter glycoside, Stearic acids, Tannins, Amine 0.05% etc. In USM, the pharmacological actions of Resha-e-Makka are anti-inflammatory, diuretic, Lithtontroptic, astringent, muhallil Balgham, etc. Zea mays is reported for its antibacterial, anti microbial, anti-deperssant, anti-diabetic, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antimalarial, antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, etc. activity. The review explores the pharmacological, phytochemical, and therapeutic properties of Zea mays Lin. Many pharmacological activities mentioned in Unani medicine are validated and many activities need further exploration due to the immense therapeutic scope in this drug.