High-performance liquid phase separation of glycosides. 5. Determination of individual glucosinolates in cabbage and rapeseed by laser-induced fluorescene capillary electrophoresis via the enzymatically released isothiocyanate aglycon.

A capillary electrophoresis (CE) method was developed for the profiling and determination of individual glucosinolates (GSs) via their isothiocyanate degradation products upon myrosinase digestion. The resulting isothiocyanates, the structures of which are reflective of the parent GS's, were then converted to their corresponding amines via base hydrolysis or reaction with 1, 2-benzenedithiol. Subsequently, the amines were fluorescently labeled to allow their sensitive detection by laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). The CE method involved the use of in situ charged micelles for the separation of isothiocyanates and their corresponding fluorescently labeled amines by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC). The term "in situ charged micelles" refers to micelles formed by complexing the polar hydroxyl groups of glycosidic surfactants with borate. The MECC method with on-column LIF detection was applied to the determination of GSs in white cabbage, rapeseed leaves, and rapeseed roots.