Change in Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activity of Silk, Husk and Cob of Baby Corn (Zea mays L.) during Four Phenological Stages

Baby corn (Zea mays L.) is an emerging vegetable crop having a rich profile of functional elements and its widespread use in the food sector for its delicious taste and health benefiting properties. The present investigation analyzed three parts of baby corn, viz. silk, cob and husk, at four developmental/maturity stages on the basis of cob size: stage -1 (5.0-7.0 cm; S1), stage -2 (7.1-9.0; S2), stage -3 (9.1-11.0 cm; S3) and stage -4 (11.1-13.0 cm; S4). Xanthophylls and total carotenoid content showed significant (p<0.05) difference whereas, increase in 0 -carotene and chlorophyll was observed from S1 to S3. The phenolic content increased in silk (upto S3) whereas decreasing trend was observed in corn husk extract. Flavonoid content increased by 70.92, 219.8, and 104.2% in silk, 95.4, 241.4 and 290.24% in husk, whereas cob showed reduction of 26.3, 30.0, 40.0% from S2 to S4 over S1, respectively. All extracts showed strong radical scavenging activity, beta-carotene linoleate and SOD activity. The study highlights functional attributes of baby corn cob for human consumption viz a viz husk portion for industrial use in functional food items.