Major nutrient compositions and functional properties of sorghum flour at 0-3 days of grain germination.

Germination is of importance to improving nutritional attributes of cereal grains for human consumption. The effect of germination time on major nutrient compositions and functional properties of sorghum flour was investigated in this study. Grains of Butanua, a new Sudanese sorghum cultivar, were germinated for 0, 1, 2, and 3 days to analyze their chemical and functional properties. The contents of starch, protein, oil, foaming stability, bulk density, and least gelation concentration of sorghum flour decreased, whereas oil absorption capacity, foaming capacity, and emulsion capacity and stability enhanced with an increase in germination time. Improved functional properties of sorghum flour by germination of the grains not only make it useful and suitable for various food processing formulations, but also improve the food product quality. This new finding will beneficially help develop innovative technologies, design new types of functional foods, and promote both sorghum production and relevant food processing industry in the future.