Sorghum starch: functionality and potential applications

Grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is the candidate of cereal family “Gramineae.” It is a hardy crop due to its ability to survive in harsh environmental conditions of low rainfall and higher temperatures where major cereal crops such as wheat, rice, and corn fail to grow. Starch is the major component of sorghum endosperm and therefore, sorghum could be considered a sustainable and cheap resource for starch isolation owing to its drought-tolerant nature. Another unique feature of sorghum starch is its higher content of slowly digestible as well as resistant starch constituents. Keeping in view the global food insecurity issues sorghum could be commercially exploited for starch extraction as an alternative to corn, wheat, and potato which have greater food values than sorghum. This chapter highlights the important functional properties and potential applications of sorghum starch.