The extracting method and structure of goitrogenic substances formed in rape seed, were investigated. Oxazolidinethione content of the extracts was estimated by the spectrophotometry, and total goitrogenic activity of the extracts and residues was determined by chick feeding experiments.
Major goitrogenic substance in myrosinase-treated seed meals was an oxazolidinethione, and significant amounts of unknown goitrogenic substances were found in both the enzyme-treated meals and a control sample to which no myrosinase has been added. Total goitrogenic substances in the seed meals were extracted quantitatively by two extractions with five times its weight of water. The ether-extraction was not suitable to remove total goitrogenic substances, because the myrosinasetreated meal contained ether insoluble goitrogenic substance. However, re-extraction of the water extracts with ethyl ether was necessary for purification of the oxazolidinethiones. Formation of oxazolidinethiones by autolysis during storage seemed unlikely since no oxazolidinethiones was detected on the stored seed without the enzyme-digestion.
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