Barbarea verna as a source of 2-phenylethyl glucosinolate, precursor of cancer chemopreventive phenylethyl isothiocyanate.

The isolation of gram-amounts of 2-phenylethyl glucosinolate (gluconasturtiin, GST) from Barbarea verna seeds is reported for the first time. This vegetable source was of crucial importance to isolate GST with a high purity grade and in high yield. Indeed, B. verna seeds contain GST as the only glucosinolate, unlike other sources. The availability at low cost of GST will allow further studies to explain the claimed anticancer activity of its derived phenylethyl isothiocyanate.