Determination of Phenethyl Isothiocyanate, Erucin, Iberverin, and Erucin Nitrile Concentrations in Healthy and <i>Pieris rapae</i>-Infected Broccoli Tissues Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Cruciferous vegetables (<i>Brassicaceae</i> family) are a rich source of phytochemicals, in particular glucosinolates (GLS) and their hydrolysis products, isothiocyanates and nitriles. These phytochemicals may act as chemosensors, attracting insects, such as <i>Pieris rapae</i&g...

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Main Authors: Irene-Dimitra Mesimeri, Panagiota-Kyriaki Revelou, Violetta Constantinou-Kokotou, Maroula G. Kokotou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-01-01
Series:Chemosensors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9040/12/1/16
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author Irene-Dimitra Mesimeri
Panagiota-Kyriaki Revelou
Violetta Constantinou-Kokotou
Maroula G. Kokotou
author_facet Irene-Dimitra Mesimeri
Panagiota-Kyriaki Revelou
Violetta Constantinou-Kokotou
Maroula G. Kokotou
author_sort Irene-Dimitra Mesimeri
collection DOAJ
description Cruciferous vegetables (<i>Brassicaceae</i> family) are a rich source of phytochemicals, in particular glucosinolates (GLS) and their hydrolysis products, isothiocyanates and nitriles. These phytochemicals may act as chemosensors, attracting insects, such as <i>Pieris rapae</i>, and stimulating oviposition. There is a lack of information on the concentrations of isothiocyanates and nitriles when an insect affects a <i>Brassicaceae</i> plant. In the current study, some GLS hydrolysis products were determined in healthy and <i>Pieris rapae-</i>infected organic cultivated broccoli plants, as well as the infesting insects’ larvae, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). This study investigated the following phytochemicals: phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), erucin (ER), 3-(methylthio)propyl isothiocyanate (3MIC), and 1-cyano-4-(methylthio)butane (5MITN). All these components were quantified in the aerial and underground parts of the plants and were found in high concentrations in the roots. Among the phytochemicals studied, 5MITN presented the highest concentration in all the broccoli samples but was especially high in the stalks of the infected plants. Moreover, the analysis of a sample of <i>Pieris rapae</i> larvae, fed from the hosted broccoli, revealed the presence of PEITC and ER. These findings indicate that the infestation of broccoli with <i>Pieris rapae</i> may affect the distribution of PEITC, ER, 3MIC, and 5MITN throughout the plant. An extension of our study to conventional cultivated broccoli showed that the roots are indeed rich in GLS hydrolysis products.
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spelling doaj.art-ba199be2e1194defbffe8b331a0930062024-01-26T15:46:14ZengMDPI AGChemosensors2227-90402024-01-011211610.3390/chemosensors12010016Determination of Phenethyl Isothiocyanate, Erucin, Iberverin, and Erucin Nitrile Concentrations in Healthy and <i>Pieris rapae</i>-Infected Broccoli Tissues Using Gas Chromatography-Mass SpectrometryIrene-Dimitra Mesimeri0Panagiota-Kyriaki Revelou1Violetta Constantinou-Kokotou2Maroula G. Kokotou3Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Chemical Laboratories, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, Athens 11855, GreeceDepartment of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Chemical Laboratories, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, Athens 11855, GreeceDepartment of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Chemical Laboratories, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, Athens 11855, GreeceDepartment of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Chemical Laboratories, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, Athens 11855, GreeceCruciferous vegetables (<i>Brassicaceae</i> family) are a rich source of phytochemicals, in particular glucosinolates (GLS) and their hydrolysis products, isothiocyanates and nitriles. These phytochemicals may act as chemosensors, attracting insects, such as <i>Pieris rapae</i>, and stimulating oviposition. There is a lack of information on the concentrations of isothiocyanates and nitriles when an insect affects a <i>Brassicaceae</i> plant. In the current study, some GLS hydrolysis products were determined in healthy and <i>Pieris rapae-</i>infected organic cultivated broccoli plants, as well as the infesting insects’ larvae, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). This study investigated the following phytochemicals: phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), erucin (ER), 3-(methylthio)propyl isothiocyanate (3MIC), and 1-cyano-4-(methylthio)butane (5MITN). All these components were quantified in the aerial and underground parts of the plants and were found in high concentrations in the roots. Among the phytochemicals studied, 5MITN presented the highest concentration in all the broccoli samples but was especially high in the stalks of the infected plants. Moreover, the analysis of a sample of <i>Pieris rapae</i> larvae, fed from the hosted broccoli, revealed the presence of PEITC and ER. These findings indicate that the infestation of broccoli with <i>Pieris rapae</i> may affect the distribution of PEITC, ER, 3MIC, and 5MITN throughout the plant. An extension of our study to conventional cultivated broccoli showed that the roots are indeed rich in GLS hydrolysis products.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9040/12/1/16<i>Brassicaceae</i>broccoliisothiocyanatesnitrile<i>Pieris rapae</i>
spellingShingle Irene-Dimitra Mesimeri
Panagiota-Kyriaki Revelou
Violetta Constantinou-Kokotou
Maroula G. Kokotou
Determination of Phenethyl Isothiocyanate, Erucin, Iberverin, and Erucin Nitrile Concentrations in Healthy and <i>Pieris rapae</i>-Infected Broccoli Tissues Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Chemosensors
<i>Brassicaceae</i>
broccoli
isothiocyanates
nitrile
<i>Pieris rapae</i>
title Determination of Phenethyl Isothiocyanate, Erucin, Iberverin, and Erucin Nitrile Concentrations in Healthy and <i>Pieris rapae</i>-Infected Broccoli Tissues Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
title_full Determination of Phenethyl Isothiocyanate, Erucin, Iberverin, and Erucin Nitrile Concentrations in Healthy and <i>Pieris rapae</i>-Infected Broccoli Tissues Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
title_fullStr Determination of Phenethyl Isothiocyanate, Erucin, Iberverin, and Erucin Nitrile Concentrations in Healthy and <i>Pieris rapae</i>-Infected Broccoli Tissues Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
title_full_unstemmed Determination of Phenethyl Isothiocyanate, Erucin, Iberverin, and Erucin Nitrile Concentrations in Healthy and <i>Pieris rapae</i>-Infected Broccoli Tissues Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
title_short Determination of Phenethyl Isothiocyanate, Erucin, Iberverin, and Erucin Nitrile Concentrations in Healthy and <i>Pieris rapae</i>-Infected Broccoli Tissues Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
title_sort determination of phenethyl isothiocyanate erucin iberverin and erucin nitrile concentrations in healthy and i pieris rapae i infected broccoli tissues using gas chromatography mass spectrometry
topic <i>Brassicaceae</i>
broccoli
isothiocyanates
nitrile
<i>Pieris rapae</i>
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9040/12/1/16
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