DETERMINATION OF GLUCOSINOLATES IN DOMESTIC AND WILD MUSTARD BY HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH CONFIRMATION BY ELECTROSPRAY MASS-SPECTROMETRY AND PHOTODIODE-ARRAY DETECTION

A method has been developed to easily separate and quantify glucosinol ates in mustard and winter cress plants using reversed-phase HPLC with volatile ion-pairing reagents to modify the mobile phase and enhance retention and selectivity. Volatile buffers are required for HPLC-elec trospray mass spectrometry. Confirmation of identity was accomplished using both negative ion electrospray mass spectrometry and photodiode- array detection. This method provides a way to determine glucosinolate s in Brassica and cruciferous vegetables, most of which are commercial ly unavailable. Glucosinolates were determined in various parts and se ctions of yellow and brown domestic mustards and winter cress (wild mu stard). Results varied from 0.2 mg/g glucosinolate content in the root s of the plants to 26 mg/g in the seeds.