Brassica juncea seeds and seedlings are potential functional foods with diverse active myrosinases

Brassica juncea is an important oilseed and vegetable crop which occupies 90% of the area under mustard cultivation in India. Seeds, seedlings (microgreens), and leaves are a rich in proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and glucosinolates (sinigrin). Sinigrin hydrolysis by myrosinases produces bioactive allyl-isothiocyanate which prevents cancer cell growth, diabetes, hypertension, and neurodegenerative diseases. Myrosinase activity was detected in seeds and all vegetative tissues of seedlings and mature plants. Multiple heterodimeric myrosinases (64 and 65 kDa) were purified from seeds and seedlings using DEAE, hydrophobic interaction, and lectin affinity chromatography. Purified myrosinases were thermostable and had broad pH activity. Seed myrosinases were highly stable at 4 degrees C retaining >95% activity making them suitable candidates for use in the nutraceutical industry. The inclusion of seeds and microgreens of B. juncea which are rich in sinigrin and myrosinases in a regular diet could help achieve good health and well-being.