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ARS Home » Plains Area » Manhattan, Kansas » Center for Grain and Animal Health Research » Grain Quality and Structure Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #412878
Research Project: Grain Composition Traits Related to End-Use Quality and Value of Sorghum

Location: Grain Quality and Structure Research

Title: Gastrointestinal health benefits of sorghum phenolics

Author
item SLEEM, IBTESAM - University Of Tennessee
item Smolensky, Dmitriy
item DIA, VERMONT - University Of Tennessee

Submitted to: Plant Foods for Human Nutrition
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/15/2024
Publication Date: 8/30/2024
Citation: Sleem, I., Smolensky, D., Dia, V. 2024. Gastrointestinal health benefits of sorghum phenolics. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition. 79:730–743. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-024-01230-6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-024-01230-6

Interpretive Summary: Sorghum, as a crop, has the potential to increase food security and is a good source of beneficial antioxidant compounds. These antioxidant compounds have the potential to protect against several human diseases and to improve digestive health. Recent studies showed that sorghum can contribute to a better balance of beneficial bacteria in the gut. Additionally sorghum compounds have been shown to have anti-cancer effects in laboratory studies. This review article discusses these beneficial effects and the mechanisms behind them.

Technical Abstract: Sorghum is considered a promising food security crop and remarkable rich source of bioactive components including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and tannins. Sorghum phenolics exhibited numerous protective effects against multiple chronic diseases. However, there is no review of the effects of sorghum phenolics on gastrointestinal (GI) health. Specifically, recent studies have highly suggested that sorghum phenolics can maintain gastrointestinal homeostasis and enhance microbial diversity and richness. Furthermore, sorghum phenolics showed GI anticancer effects in both in vitro and in vivo studies against colorectal and esophageal cancers. Treatment of GI related human cancer cell lines stimulated apoptosis and suppressed proliferation. Sorghum intake and extracts treatments reduced intestinal oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators in human and in vivo studies. In addition, understanding the role and mechanisms underlying gastrointestinal health benefits of sorghum phenolics is crucial to determine treatment strategies of different GI diseases.