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2026 Vol.38, Issue 3 Preview Page

Research Article

Anticancer Activity of Sorghum Bicolor Seed Extracts and Their Effects on Apoptosis-Related Gene Expression
Won Hyeok Choi1
,
Suho Lim1
,
Jeong Yeon Park1
,
Ji Hye Yoo2
,
Ju Hee Park2
,
Na Young Kim3
,
Eun Soo Seong4*
1Graduate Students, Interdisciplinary Program in Smart Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
2Researcher, Division of Bioresource Sciences, Department of Applied Plant Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
3Professor, Department of Hotel Culinary Arts, Songho University, Hoengseong 25242, Korea
4Professor, Division of Bioresource Sciences, Department of Applied Plant Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
*Corresponding Author
30 September 2026. pp. 289-302
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Abstract

This study assessed the anti-proliferative effects and molecular apoptotic mechanisms of seed extracts from three genetic resources (IT225078, IT300108, and IT320916) of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) against six human cancer cell lines (AGS, A549, HCT116, HeLa, Huh7, and HepG2). Cell viability was examined using the MTT assay, morphological alterations in the cells were observed under a microscope, and changes in the mRNA expression of key apoptosis-related genes (BAX, BCL2, CASP3, and CASP9) were examined using quantitative real-time PCR. The sorghum extract exhibited anti-proliferative effects on cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner and induced morphological signs of apoptosis, such as cell shrinkage and detachment. Gene expression analysis demonstrated that the extract-treated groups showed alterations in the mRNA expression of BAX, BCL2, CASP3, and CASP9. This suggested that the sorghum extract affects the expression of genes linked to mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. Contrastingly, relatively strong resistance was noted in the Huh7 cells harboring mutant p53. This suggests that the anticancer mechanism of the extract is closely related to the functional activation of p53. Thus, sorghum extract can decrease the viability of different cancer cell lines and affect the mRNA expression of apoptosis-related genes, suggesting its potential as a natural product-based functional ingredient.

Keywords
Anticancer activity
Apoptosis
Gene expression
Seed extract
Sorghum bicolor
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Information
  • Publisher :Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Institute, Kangwon National University
  • Publisher(Ko) :None
  • Journal Title :Journal of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences
  • Volume : 38
  • No :3
  • Pages :289-302
  • Received Date : 2026-06-30
  • Revised Date : 2026-08-05
  • Accepted Date : 2026-08-15
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.22698/jales.20260020
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