Analysis of isothiocyanates in newly generated vegetables, Baemuchae (xBrassicoraphanus) as affected by growth

Abstract

Isothiocyanates in Brassica exhibit anticancer properties related to induction of phase II detoxification enzymes. Currently, variations of isothiocyanates was evaluated in Baemuchae (XBrassicoraphanus), which was newly generated by inter-specific hybrid crops between radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. pekinensis). A high-performance liquid chromatography system coupled with an evaporative light scattering detector and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were utilised to identify and quantify isothiocyanates including sulforaphene and sulforaphane in prepared plants. Sulforaphene constituted a major isothiocyanate in Baemuchae and radish, while sulforaphane was detected in broccoli. Sulforaphane contents varied during broccoli growth, with a constant decrease noted from 144.9 +/- 8.69 in sprouts to 8.1 +/- 1.07 mu g g(-1) in young leaves. Sulforaphene contents in Baemuchae and radish sprouts were 172.6 +/- 11.23 and 131.3 +/- 4.08 mu g g(-1), respectively, and were rarely a. ected by plant growth. The result supported that newly generated crop Baemuchae had potential to be utilised as functional material because of presence of sulforaphene.