SEPARATION BY SOLID-PHASE EXTRACTION AND QUANTIFICATION BY REVERSE-PHASE HPLC OF SULFORAPHANE IN BROCCOLI

The separation and quantification of sulforaphane [1-isothiocyanato-4- (methylsulfinyl)-butane] from the florets, stalks and leaves of brocco li is described. The procedure uses solvent extraction, followed by pu rification of extracts using solid phase extraction (SPE) and reverse phase HPLC analysis. The HPLC method is compared with a spectrophotome tric assay. To obtain information about the usefulness of acid hydroly sis of glucosinolates, the florets were left to autolyze at room tempe rature or were treated with concentrated hydrochloric acid, then analy sed. The method proves reliable and reproducible as regards both SPE p urification and chromatographic determination. Quantities of sulforaph ane were found in the florets, stalks and leaves. The highest content of sulforaphane (110 mu g g(-1)) was found in the leaves. (C) 1998 Els evier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.