Abstract: In order to research the chemical composition and the bioactivities of the extract of the seeds of Zea mays cultivated in Bama of Guangxi province,the fatty acid derivatives were isolated by solvent extraction method and analyzed by gas chromatographymass spectrometry method and principal components analysis was adopted to investigate their compositions.Cytotoxic,antiinflammatory and neuroprotective activities were studied on the extract.7 peaks were detected and 5 components were identified as fatty acid esters according to their mass analysis.The results showed that the relative amount of fatty acid esters was higher in the lowboiling substances in the seeds of Z.mays.The amount of(Z,Z)9,12octadecadienoic acid esters and(Z,Z,Z)9,12,15octadecatrienoic acid esters is up to 81.74% of total fatty acid derivatives.The extract of the seeds of Z.mays have no toxic,have antiinflammatory and neuroprotective activities.

Key words: Zea mays L., lowboiling substance, principal components analysis, antiinflammatory, neuroprotection