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 mu mol g(-1) FW and from 23.07 to 82.20 mu mol g(-1) FW, respectively. Leaf mustard had both the highest average levels of glucosinolates and GBPs (65.04 mu mol g(-1) FW and 55.97 mu mol 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 mu mol 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.