Edible Parts: Seed  Stem
Edible Uses: Colouring  Sweetener

Seed - raw or cooked. It is used as a whole grain in similar ways to rice, it can be popped much like popcorn, or can be ground into a flour and made into bread etc[2 , 4 , 57 , 162 , 183 ]. The ground seed yields a particularly white flour[7 ]. Sorghum is a staple food in some regions, where it is often fermented (lactic acid fermentation) before being eaten[183 ]. The sprouted seed can be eaten raw, and is sometimes added to salads[183 ]. The seed is germinated, then dried and ground into a powder to form malt, which is used as a substratum for fermentation in local beer production[299 ]. Stems - cooked[105 ]. Some caution is advised here, there are some reports that the leaves can contain the poison cyanide[4 ]. The stems of sweet sorghum types are chewed like sugar cane and, mainly in the United States, a sweet syrup is pressed from them[299 ]. Sap - raw or cooked. Very sweet, it is made into a syrup[1 , 2 , 46 , 57 , 257 ].

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antibacterial  Antifungal  Astringent  Demulcent  Diuretic  Haemostatic  Kidney  Urinary


The decoction of the seed is demulcent and diuretic[4 ]. It is used in the treatment of kidney and urinary complaints[4 , 299 ]. The inflorescence is astringent and haemostatic[7 ]. The leaves and panicles are included in plant mixtures for decoctions used in the treatment of anaemia[299 ]. Decoctions of the twigs, combined with lemon, is used as a treatment against jaundice[299 ]. The red pigment is said to have antimicrobial and antifungal properties. It is used as a treatment for anaemia[299 ].

Adhesive  Biomass  Biomass  Broom  Brush  Dye  Fencing  Fuel  Hair  Roofing  Tannin  Weaving

The flowering panicles, especially of cultivars specially bred for the purpose, are used as brushes, brooms, whisks etc[1 , 2 , 4 , 46 , 57 ]. Several non-edible sorghum cultivars are exclusively grown for the red pigment present in the leaf sheaths and sometimes also in adjacent stem parts. It is used as a dye for mats, textiles, strips of palm leaves and grasses used in basketry and weaving, ornamental calabashes, wool, as a body paint and to colour cheese and lick stones for cattle[299 ]. A similar dye can be extracted from the grain refuse (glumes and grain wall) of several red sorghum cultivars grown for food or for beer-making[299 ]. The red sorghum dyes were traditionally used as a funeral hanging, decorated with patterns made by thick threads added to the weft of the fabric. The fabrics in which the dominant colours were derived from sorghum were known as ‘ifala’. Sorghum is also used to provide the violet colours decorating the masks worn during certain dances. Sorghum and other tannin-rich dyes are used in combination with mud to create the patterns of the painted cloths produced in the Korhogo region. The dye was extracted by squeezing out the juice, which was then fermented. Used with wool or silk mordanted with tin or chrome, the result was a colourfast red-brown. Recently the use of sorghum dye in hair dying products has been patented[299 ]. Sorghum flour is used to produce an adhesive that is used in the manufacture of plywood[299 ]. Stems are used for weaving fences, mats, wattle houses etc[178 ]. Sorghum plant residues are used extensively as material for roofing, fencing, weaving and as fuel[299 ]. The plant is an excellent source of biomass[269 ]. The stems can be used for the production of fibreboard. Danish scientists have made good panelling using stem chips of sorghum[299 ].

Special Uses