Chemical and biological properties of indole glucosinolates (glucobrassicins): a review.

Glucosinolates are a group of secondary products commonly, but not exclusively, found in plants of the family Cruciferae. They give rise, upon enzymic hydrolysis, to a range of volatile, pungent and physiologically active compounds. Recently, particular attention has been focused upon those that are trytophan-derived--the indole glucosinolates (glucobrassicins). When chemically or enzymically hydrolysed these compounds give rise to a range of involatile indole compounds which have been implicated in the anti-carcinogenic and mixed-function-oxidase stimulatory activities of brassica vegetables. This review details the chemical and physiological properties of indole glucosinolates and their products and suggests possible areas for future research.