Phytochemicals glucosinolates

The mucosa of the GIT represents an interface between the external and internal environments. The expansive surface area is necessary for the efficient hydrolysis of foodstuffs and the absorption of energy and nutrients. The mucosa also influences the systemic availability of non-nutrient compounds in the diet, both beneficial and detrimental. Digestion and absorption of glucosinolates are critical determinants of health benefits (see Chapter 4) Similarly, the bioavailability and health benefits of phytoestrogens, such as genistein (see Chapters 5 and 10) are at least partly dependent on the carrier-mediated processes of absorption associated with the GIT (Oitate et al, 2001). Moreover, the metabolic activities of the mucosa can influence the systemic concentrations and forms of dietary phytochemicals, as exemplified by research with soy isoflavones (Andlauer et al., 2000). 

The phytochemical contents of cultivars of the same species can be significantly different, even within the same field. Evidence for this statement has been given in several recent papers and reviews glucosinolates (Rosa et al., 1997), phenolic compounds (Osier and Lindroth, 2001 Kalt et al., 2001 Howard et al., 2002 Scalzo et al., 2005 Dykes et al., 2005 Pandjaitan et al., 2005 Mpofu et al. 2006) and alkaloids and terpenoids (Theis and Lerdau, 2003). 

Bender J Celenza JL (2009) Indolic glucosinolates at the crossroads of tryptophan metabolism. Phytochem Rev 8 25-37... 

Agerbirk N, Vos M, Kim JH, Jander G (2009) Indole glucosinolate breakdown and its biological effects. Phytochem Rev 8 101-120... 

Isothiocyanates are sulphur- and nitrogen-containing phytochemicals with the general formula R-NSC, e.g. phenylethyl isothiocyanate 199, 3-phenylpropyl isothiocyanate 200 and benzyl isothiocyanate 201 (Structure 4.58). Isothiocyanates occur naturally as glucosinolate conjugates mainly in cruciferous vegetables. Isothiocyanates are also responsible for the typical flavour of these vegetables [1-4,21-23, 25, 54]. 

M. Butzenlechner, S. Thimet, K. Kempe, H. Kexel, H.-L. Schmidt (1996) Inter- and intramolecular isotopic correlations in some cyanogenic glycosides and glucosinolates and their practical importance. Phytochem. 42, 585-592... 

Davin, L., G. Haughn, D. Reed, M. Gibun, and E. W. Underhill, Biochemical genetics of glucosinolates in Arabidopsis thaliana. Abstracts, Phytochem. Soc. North America, Annual Meeting, 1988. 

Velasco, R, Francisco, M., Moreno, D.A., Ferreres, F., Garcia-Viguera, C., and Cartea, M.E. 2011. Phytochemical fingerprinting of vegetable Brassica oleracea and Brassica napus by simultaneous identification of glucosinolates and phenolics. Phytochem. Anal. 22 144-152. 

Thousands of diverse natural products are produced by plants and many of these are involved in plant defense. The phytochemical diversity of antimicrobial compounds include terpenoids, saponins, phenolics and phenylpro-panoids, pterocarpans, stilbenes, alkaloids, glucosinolates, hydrogen cyanide, terpenoids, indole and also elemental sulphur, the sole inorganic compound (Cooper et al., 1996). Investigation of chemotaxonomic relationships provided evidence that plant families may be good proxy for the chemical composition of antimicrobial compounds for instance, Fabaceae produce primarily isoflavonoids and... 

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