Development of thick extract technology of corn silk

Abstract: Effective treatment of wound processes is an urgent task for medical practice. Among the local medications used for these pathologies, hydrogel wound dressings based on biopolymers have become increasingly popular in recent years. Natural gelling agents, along with a positive effect on the healing process, are able to successfully perform the functions of a carrier of other biologically active components. In particular, it seems relevant to introduce into the composition of such hydrogels the extraction complex of maize columns with stigmas, enriched with substances with antioxidant, immunotropic and hemostatic properties. In this regard, it seems expedient to develop a technology for obtaining an extraction complex from maize columns with stigmas in the form of a thick extract. The object of the study was commercial samples of corn columns with stigmas that meet the requirements of regulatory documentation. Determination of extractive substances of plant raw materials, quantitative content of flavonoids, dry residue of extracts, weight loss during drying of a thick extract was carried out by pharmacopoeial methods. Spectrophotometric studies were carried out on a Shimadzu UV-1800 spectrophotometer. As an extractant for extracting the phytocomplex, 70% ethyl alcohol was used. Extraction of raw materials was carried out by vacuum filtration extraction. The alcohol extracts were concentrated using an IR-1M2 rotary evaporator. Grinding of corn columns with stigmas was carried out by crushing with simultaneous attrition using a laboratory two-roll grinder, which ensured the achievement of the raw material characteristics necessary for vacuum filtration extraction. The results of vacuum filtration extraction of corn columns with stigmas showed that the use of this method makes it possible to achieve the transfer of 90,4% of the total amount of biologically active substances and 83,7% of flavonoids into the first three plums, a further increase in the number of plums is inappropriate. In order to remove accompanying substances, the combined extract was kept at a temperature not exceeding 10°C for 2 days, and the precipitate that formed was filtered off. Determination of the content of "dry residue" and flavonoids in the purified extract showed that, as a result of purification, mainly associated substances were in the sediment, while the active substances remained in a dissolved state in the composition of the extract. In order to obtain a thick extract, the extract was concentrated using a rotary evaporator at a temperature of 50-60°C to the required consistency and a residual moisture content of no more than 25%.