Changing Trends in the Methodologies of Extraction and Analysis of Hydrolytic Products of Glucosinolates: A Review

Abstract

The increasing resistance among various pests and pathogens to the available synthetic medicines had lead to the compulsion for exploring new and improved alternatives. The phytochemicals have arisen as effective and safer alternate. Among the many plant secondary metabolites, glucosinolates surpass in biological activity and hence have been exhaustively extracted and explored for their activity against these dreaded diseases. This augmented demand for exploring the biological properties of all the available glucosinolates, especially their hydrolytic products, has lead to the development of new methods for extraction and analysis of these metabolites. The extraction methods are designed to match the volatility of the compound without degrading its quality. These methods have been improved to choose the best extraction conditions including the extracting solvents. The extracted glucosinolate hydrolytic products are further analyzed using an array of analytical methods ranging from as simple as paper chromatography to as complex as microchip analysis. These methods are designed and developed to match the needs of accuracy, reliability, and repeatability in addition to the cost effectiveness. This review thus is a highlight and a milestone for the scientists and budding researchers working on the crucial task of extracting, analyzing, and exploring the biological properties of glucosinolate hydrolytic products.