Glucosinolates Profile of “Mugnolo”, a Variety of Brassica oleracea L. Native to Southern Italy (Salento)

Abstract

Glucosinolates (GLSs) from a variety of Brassica oleracea, known locally as “mugnolo” and widely distributed in southern Italy, were studied. It was found that “mugnolo” inflorescences are characterized by the presence of the aliphatic GLSs glucoraphanin (1.79 µmol/g), glucoiberin, glucoerucin, and sinigrin, of the aromatic GLSs glucobarberin (0.56 µmol/g) and gluconasturtin, and of the indole GLSs glucobrassicin (3.51 µmol/g), neoglucobrassicin, 4-methoxyglucobrassicin, and 4-hydroxyglucobrassicin. Indole GLSs were predominant, while aliphatic and aromatic GLS were found in lower quantities. The metabolic profile of “mugnolo” leaves was also studied. It was found that 4-hydroxyglucobrassicin (0.13 µmol/g) and glucoraphanin (0.11 µmol/g) are the predominant GLSs. Vegetables of the Brassicaceae family are seldom consumed raw; therefore we also analyzed the GLS profile of “mugnolo” after cooking in water. The results showed variations in the GLSs content with a fall in concentration of 50 %.

Key words

Brassica oleracea - Brassicaceae - glucosinolates - mugnolo - metabolic profile

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