Reactivity and Stability of Glucosinolates and Their Breakdown Products in Foods

Abstract

The chemistry of glucosinolates and their behavior during food processing is very complex. Their instability leads to the formation of a bunch of breakdown and reaction products that are very often reactive themselves. Although excessive consumption of cabbage varieties has been thought for long time to have adverse, especially goitrogenic effects, nowadays, epidemiologic studies provide data that there might be beneficial health effects as well. Especially Brassica vegetables, such as broccoli, radish, or cabbage, are rich in these interesting plant metabolites. However, information on the bioactivity of glucosinolates is only valuable when one knows which compounds are formed during processing and subsequent consumption. This review provides a comprehensive, in-depth overview on the chemical reactivity of different glucosinolates and breakdown products thereof during food preparation.

Reviews and Syntheses: Carbonyl Sulfide as a Multi-scale Tracer for Carbon and Water Cycles

“…Evidence for OCS emissions following SCN -degradation has been observed from a range of environmental samples from aquatic and terrestrial origins, indicating a wide distribution of OCS-emitting microorganisms in nature (Yamasaki et al, 2002). Hydrolysis of isothiocyanate, another breakdown product of 15 glucosinolates (Hanschen et al, 2014), by the SaxA protein also yields OCS, as shown in phytopathogenic Pectobacterium sp. (Welte et al, 2016).…”

Comparison of Sous-vide methods and traditional hydrothermal treatment on GLS content in Brassica vegetables

“…Nonetheless, as most of vegetables that are abundant in 2-hydroxyalkenyl GLS are cooked before consumption, the goitrogenic action should not have been counted [39]. The study performed by Verkerk [40] showed the reduction (40-70%) in GLS content during cooking, which was mainly caused by the transition of these compounds to water.…”

Glucosinolate Profile of Croatian Stenoendemic Plant Fibigia triquetra (DC.) Boiss. ex Prantl.

“…The most common breakdown products are ITCs, which are characterised by odd mass of the molecular ion, and a [28] Beside identified ITCs, other breakdown products, mostly nitriles, can be helpful in confirming the parent GL identification. Individual GLs identified by GC-MS analysis of their hydrolysis products in different F. triquetra plant parts are shown in Table 2.…”