maize
Zea mays
Zea mays, commonly known as maize or corn, is a widely cultivated plant with origins in Mesoamerica. Traditionally, its uses are not well-documented in any specific medical tradition. Scientific evidence for medicinal applications of Zea mays is limited, but studies have identified potential candidate genes associated with dwarfism through genomic analyses. There is some promising research suggesting that botanical pesticides derived from maize may be effective against fall armyworms in African agricultural systems, though the current support for this application is still preliminary. Additionally, corn fiber has shown promise in enhancing the mechanical properties of biocomposites used in materials science. Safety concerns and known drug interactions related to Zea mays are currently not well-documented; however, no major issues have been reported.
- Best evidence
- D
- Cautions
- —
Informational only. Traditional use does not mean proven effectiveness. Evidence and safety vary — check the cited sources.
What the science says
- The study identified four potential candidate genes associated with dwarfism in maize through BSA-seq and transcriptomic analyses.
- The review suggests that botanical pesticides show promise against fall armyworm in African maize systems, with Azadirachta indica currently having the strongest support.
- The study found that corn fiber (Zea mays) at 10-20 wt% provided the best tensile and flexural performance for uncompatibilized recycled polypropylene biocomposites.
- The study found that blends of corn and butterfly lily starches in bioactive coatings improved the physiological quality of common bean seeds compared to other formulations.
- Paecilomyces lilacinus enhanced maize's antioxidant defenses and phytohormone production under heavy metal stress, improving plant tolerance without explicit treatment advice.
- Blends of blue corn flour and purple sweet potato flour in ready-to-eat flakes increased antioxidant capacity and dietary fiber content while maintaining sensory acceptability.
- The study identified 18 ZmABF genes in maize and found that overexpression of ZmABF8 enhances drought tolerance.
- Loss of VIMa and VIMb leads to endosperm-specific CG hypomethylation, impaired endoreduplication, and reduced kernel size.
- The study identified and characterized 219 genes encoding small signaling peptides in Sorghum bicolor, revealing distinct expression patterns during stem development.
- PFGPred outperformed individual models in predicting fusion genes from RNA-Seq data, achieving 0.97 accuracy on training data and 0.77 on independent test data for plants.
Frequently asked questions
What is maize?
maize (Zea mays) is a plant documented in FolkKB's traditional-medicine reference, drawn from sourced literature and cross-checked against the evidence.
What does the scientific evidence say about maize?
10 sourced findings are recorded for maize; the strongest carries evidence grade D. For example: The study identified four potential candidate genes associated with dwarfism in maize through BSA-seq and transcriptomic analyses.
How strong is the evidence for maize?
The strongest finding for maize carries evidence grade D — preliminary or traditional. Grades run A (strongest) to D (preliminary or traditional).
Is maize safe? What are the side effects?
No major safety issues are recorded for maize in our sources, but the data may be incomplete. Consult a qualified professional before use.
Does maize interact with medications?
No drug interactions are recorded for maize in our sources. This does not rule them out — check with a pharmacist.
What are the common names of maize?
maize is also known as: кукуруза сахарная, maïs.
Is maize a proven treatment?
No. FolkKB is informational only. Traditional use and early findings are not proof of efficacy or safety — consult a qualified professional and never self-treat.
Sources
- T2 VIMa and paternal-specifically expressed VIMb are involved in regulating DNA methylation and endosperm development in maize. literature abstract metadata
- T2 Genome-wide identification and functional characterization of the ABF gene family in maize reveals ZmABF8 as a key regulator of drought tolerance. literature abstract metadata
- T2 PFGPred: A stack ensemble classifier for the identification of fusion genes in plants. literature abstract metadata
- T2 Physicochemical Properties, Antioxidant Capacity, and Sensory of Ready-to-Eat Flakes of Blue Corn and Purple Sweet Potato Blends. literature abstract metadata
- T2 Small Signaling Peptides in Sorghum bicolor: Integrating Phylogeny and Gene Expression to Characterize Roles in Stem Development. literature abstract metadata
- T2 Synergistic Action of Corn, Wolf Fruit, and Butterfly Lily Starches in Bioactive Coatings and Their Potential Application in the Physiological Quality of Common Beans. literature abstract metadata
- T2 Mechanical Performance of Uncompatibilized Recycled Polypropylene Biocomposites Filled with Corn, Banana, and Barley Agro-Industrial Residue Fibers. literature abstract metadata
- T2 Botanical Pesticides Against Fall Armyworm in African Maize Systems: A Structured Narrative Review and SWOT Synthesis. literature abstract metadata
- T2 Identification of Potential Candidate Dwarf Genes in Maize by BSA-Seq and Transcriptomic Analyses. literature abstract metadata
- T2 Phytohormones producing endophytic fungi Paecilomyceslilacinus modulated metabolic, enzymatic, and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems of Zea mays L. under heavy metal stress. literature abstract metadata