Beyond Starch- Maize's Lesser-Known Biochemical Marvels

Deepak Lohar; R.P. Srivastava; Madhwendra Kumar Pathak

doi:10.18535/ijsrm/v11i09.ah04

Abstract

Maize, a globally significant staple crop, has long been synonymous with starch production. However, this review illuminates a lesser-explored facet of maize's biochemical profile, uncovering a treasure trove of hidden marvels beyond starch. We delve into the diverse world of maize varieties, each harboring a unique blend of bioactive compounds. From antioxidants, phytochemicals, and essential vitamins to minerals, maize offers an array of nutritional and therapeutic potential. Our exploration spans the health benefits conferred by these bioactive constituents, demonstrating their role in disease prevention and overall well-being. Moreover, the pharmaceutical and industrial sectors stand to gain from maize's biochemical versatility, with applications ranging from drug development to sustainable materials. This review underscores the pressing need for continued research into maize's biochemical wonders.

In essence, this article celebrates maize's multifaceted nature, transcending its starch-centric reputation. We invite readers to recognize and harness the potential of maize's lesser-known biochemical marvels, fostering innovation in agriculture, nutrition, and beyond.

Keywords

MaizeBioactive compoundsNutritionHealth benefitsPharmaceutical applicationsIndustrial applicationsAgricultural innovationSustainability

References

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Setimela, P. S., et al. (2005). Maize germplasm diversity in southern Africa: Inferences from isozyme variation. Crop Science, 45(5), 1962-1969.Google Scholar ↗
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de Souza, V. R., et al. (2020). Ferulic acid bioavailability from maize bran diets: A crossover, double-blind, placebo-controlled experimental trial. Food & Function, 11(3), 2217-2226.Google Scholar ↗
Wang, Y., et al. (2019). Optimization of ethanol production from maize-based raw materials by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation. Frontiers in Microbiology, 10, 693.Google Scholar ↗
Ming, H., et al. (2020). Maize starch-based ethanol production and its global perspectives: A review. Journal of Environmental Management, 260, 109811.Google Scholar ↗
Averous, L., et al. (2017). Polysaccharide-based nanoparticles: A study of interfacial activity. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 150, 339-345.Google Scholar ↗
Bhatia, M., et al. (2019). Recent developments in biodegradable synthetic polymers. Biodegradable and Biocompatible Polymer Composites: Processing, Properties and Applications, 1-40.Google Scholar ↗
Lan, W., et al. (2016). Biodegradable starch-based adhesives for paper products: A review. Carbohydrate Polymers, 148, 330-344.Google Scholar ↗
Zhang, L., et al. (2019). Adhesive properties of maize gluten and its application in paperboard. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 129, 383-391.Google Scholar ↗
Kaur, G., et al. (2021). Industrial applications of amylases from maize: A review. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 166, 365-375.Google Scholar ↗
Li, Q., et al. (2019). Plant artificial chromosome (PAC) cloning and its applications in maize research. Methods in Molecular Biology, 1931, 241-258.Google Scholar ↗
Pixley, K. V., et al. (2013). Breeding for micronutrient density in maize (Zea mays L.). In Biotechnological approaches to improve maize.Google Scholar ↗
Butelli, E., et al. (2008). Enrichment of tomato fruit with health-promoting anthocyanins by expression of select transcription factors. Nature biotechnology, 26(11), 1301-1308.Google Scholar ↗
Kim, J. H., et al. (2012). Carotenoid profiling from 27 types of paprika (Capsicum annuum L.) with different colors, shapes, and cultivation methods. Food chemistry, 132(2), 1128-1136.Google Scholar ↗
Ku, K. M., et al. (2010). Characterization and genetic analysis of anthocyanin pigmentation in maize kernels. Plant Science, 179(3), 258-266.Google Scholar ↗
Sharma, A., & Gupta, P. K. (2020). Sustainable production of bioplastics from maize: A review. Journal of Environmental Management, 271, 111024.Google Scholar ↗
Li, P., et al. (2019). Metabolic engineering of maize to simultaneously enhance biomass and reduce energy consumption. Biotechnology for Biofuels, 12(1), 1-14.Google Scholar ↗
Tardieu, F., & Tuberosa, R. (2010). Dissection and modelling of abiotic stress tolerance in plants. Current opinion in plant biology, 13(2), 206-212.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-1] Smith, M. E., & Berdan, F. F. (2003).Postclassic life at Cihuatecpan: Ethnohistorical and archaeological interpretations of the Provincia de Chichimeca. University of Arizona Press.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-2] Haug, W., & Lantzsch, H. J. (1983). Sensitive method for the rapid determination of phytate in cereals and cereal products. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 34(11), 1423-1426.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-3] Meléndez-Martínez, A. J., Vicario, I. M., Heredia, F. J., & Santaella, M. (2007). Provitamin A carotenoids in Morus alba and Morus rubra cultivated in Spain. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 55(20), 8154-8158.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-4] Hosseini, B., Saedisomeolia, A., & Wood, L. G. (2018). Effects of pomegranate extract supplementation on inflammation in overweight and obese individuals: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 32, 181-186.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-5] Shen, Y., Sun, X., Lin, Y., Xie, J., & Fu, X. (2012). Functional properties of maize starches from different Chinese maize varieties. Food Chemistry, 132(1), 53-58.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-6] Hussein, A. M., Mohamed, N. A., El-Gamal, M. S., & Ibrahim, F. A. (2014). Optimization and characterization of bioethanol production from Zea mays cobs.Biomass and Bioenergy, 66, 1-8.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-7] Doebley, J. (2004). The Genetics of Maize Evolution. Annual Review of Genetics, 38, 37-59.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-8] Wilkes, G. (1967). Hybridization of maize with teosinte: An important source of genes for maize improvement. Euphytica, 16(1), 1-16.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-9] Setimela, P. S., et al. (2005). Maize germplasm diversity in southern Africa: Inferences from isozyme variation. Crop Science, 45(5), 1962-1969.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-10] Badu-Apraku, B., et al. (2019). Genetic Gains in Grain Yield of Early-Maturing Maize Cultivars Developed in Three Decades for Two Contrasting Rainfall Zones in West Africa. Crop Science, 59(2), 673-687.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-11] Baltensperger, D. D. (2002). Corn: Chemistry and Technology. In H. F. Linskens & J. F. Jackson (Eds.), Food Science and Technology: International Series (pp. 417-456). Academic Press.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-12] Halewood, M., et al. (2013). Plant genetic resources for food and agriculture: Opportunities and challenges emerging from the science and information technology revolution. New Biotechnology, 30(4), 349-360.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-13] Yuan M, Song S, Zhang Z, et al. (2013). Antioxidant effects of maize (Zea mays L.) ear silk extracts on rats with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2013, 859415.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-14] Gomez KA, Sarawong C, and Puncha-arnon S. (2019). Development and characterization of dietary fiber from maize bran: A potential food ingredient. LWT-Food Science and Technology, 102, 246-251.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-15] Camelo-Méndez GA, Gutiérrez-Carrera A, and Cortés-Cruz M. (2020). Carotenoids and phenolic compounds in maize grain: An underutilized resource in human nutrition. Molecules, 25(4), 791.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-16] Marín AR, Ferreira MS, and Lopes FM. (2019). Protein-based materials for pharmaceutical applications. European Polymer Journal, 121, 109321.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-17] Akhtar S, Ismail T, Fraternale D, and Sestili P. (2017). Pycnogenol and hydroxytyrosol inhibit matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression and activity in vascular smooth muscle cells. Oncotarget, 8(9), 15586-15598.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-18] Cruz AG, Cadena RS, Faria JAF, and Silva R. (2020). Nutritional potential of maize processing by-products for hospital enteral nutrition. Food and Bioproducts Processing, 123, 152-160.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-19] Gallo, L., and D'Apuzzo, E. (2018). Zein-based nanoparticles for drug delivery: A review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 58(9), 1539-1552.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-20] de Souza, V. R., et al. (2020). Ferulic acid bioavailability from maize bran diets: A crossover, double-blind, placebo-controlled experimental trial. Food & Function, 11(3), 2217-2226.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-21] Wang, Y., et al. (2019). Optimization of ethanol production from maize-based raw materials by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation. Frontiers in Microbiology, 10, 693.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-22] Ming, H., et al. (2020). Maize starch-based ethanol production and its global perspectives: A review. Journal of Environmental Management, 260, 109811.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-23] Averous, L., et al. (2017). Polysaccharide-based nanoparticles: A study of interfacial activity. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 150, 339-345.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-24] Bhatia, M., et al. (2019). Recent developments in biodegradable synthetic polymers. Biodegradable and Biocompatible Polymer Composites: Processing, Properties and Applications, 1-40.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-25] Lan, W., et al. (2016). Biodegradable starch-based adhesives for paper products: A review. Carbohydrate Polymers, 148, 330-344.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-26] Zhang, L., et al. (2019). Adhesive properties of maize gluten and its application in paperboard. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 129, 383-391.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-27] Kaur, G., et al. (2021). Industrial applications of amylases from maize: A review. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 166, 365-375.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-28] Li, Q., et al. (2019). Plant artificial chromosome (PAC) cloning and its applications in maize research. Methods in Molecular Biology, 1931, 241-258.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-29] Pixley, K. V., et al. (2013). Breeding for micronutrient density in maize (Zea mays L.). In Biotechnological approaches to improve maize.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-30] Butelli, E., et al. (2008). Enrichment of tomato fruit with health-promoting anthocyanins by expression of select transcription factors. Nature biotechnology, 26(11), 1301-1308.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-31] Kim, J. H., et al. (2012). Carotenoid profiling from 27 types of paprika (Capsicum annuum L.) with different colors, shapes, and cultivation methods. Food chemistry, 132(2), 1128-1136.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-32] Ku, K. M., et al. (2010). Characterization and genetic analysis of anthocyanin pigmentation in maize kernels. Plant Science, 179(3), 258-266.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-33] Sharma, A., & Gupta, P. K. (2020). Sustainable production of bioplastics from maize: A review. Journal of Environmental Management, 271, 111024.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-34] Li, P., et al. (2019). Metabolic engineering of maize to simultaneously enhance biomass and reduce energy consumption. Biotechnology for Biofuels, 12(1), 1-14.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-35] Tardieu, F., & Tuberosa, R. (2010). Dissection and modelling of abiotic stress tolerance in plants. Current opinion in plant biology, 13(2), 206-212.Google Scholar ↗