Glucosinolates: Potential Toxicants in Cabbage Cultivars1

Abstract

Seventy-nine cultivars and lines of cabbage Brassica oleracea L. (Capitata group) were analyzed for 11 glucosinolates to provide a data base of the levels of these potential toxicants. Aglucon hydrolytic products of glucosinolates from fresh cabbage (mean of 79 cultivars) include 24 ppm allyl isothiocyanate, 45 ppm 3-methylsulfinylpropyl isothiocyanate, 18 ppm SCN ion, 17 ppm 4-methylsulfinylbutyl isothiocyanate, and 4 ppm goitrin. Composition of the cultivars are summarized by type (red, white, savoy) and by end use (market, storage, kraut). Glucosinolates with a 3-carbon aglucon (excluding the sinolate carbon) predominate over 4-carbon glucosinolates in white and savoy types. Four-carbon glucosinolates (including goitrin precursor) predominate in red cabbages. Savoy cabbages are high in glucosinolates yielding SCN ion. Distinctions between market, storage, and kraut cultivars are less well defined. No differences could be seen between open pollinated and hybrid cultivars. Year-to-year variation for 12 cultivars is discussed.