Genotypic variation of glucosinolates and their breakdown products in mustard ( Brassica juncea ) seeds

The glucosinolates and glucosinolate breakdown products (GBPs) in the seeds of three types of mustard (root, stem, and leaf mustards) from a core collection of 50 cultivars were studied. Nine glucosinolates and ten GBPs were identified, with sinigrin and 2-propenyl isothiocyanate (SIN-ITC) being the dominant glucosinolate and GBP, respectively. Among the tested cultivars, the contents of total glucosinolates and GBPs ranged from 46.84 to 89.30 μmol g −1 FW and from 23.07 to 82.20 μmol g −1 FW, respectively. Leaf mustard had both the highest average levels of glucosinolates and GBPs (65.04 μmol g −1 FW and 55.97 μmol g −1 FW, respectively) and the greatest variation in total GBP content compared with root and stem mustards. L8 had the highest content of SIN-ITC (72.06 μmol g −1 FW). These findings indicate that mustard seeds, especially cultivar L8, can be good candidates for functional foods since they contain extremely high levels of SIN-ITC, a potent anti-carcinogenic isothiocyanate.