Work

Distribution characteristics of glucoraphanin, folic acid, and short-chain fatty acids in broccoli heads and sprouts

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Broccoli contains abundant bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anticancer properties. This study aims to investigate the profiles of glucosinolates, metabolites, chemical composition in broccoli heads and sprouts though UPLC-MS/MS and HPLC. The results showed that glucoraphanin (GRA) levels decreased from sprouting to heading in high-quality broccoli lines B195 and B245, though B245 consistently maintained higher levels than B195. Water-soluble vitamins and short-chain fatty acids exhibit significant variations across both sprouting and heading stages of broccoli development. Folic acid content was significantly increased in sprouting, whereas the levels of ascorbic acid were highly enriched in the heading stage of both broccoli genotypes. The concentrations of hexanoic acid and heptanoic acid were significantly higher in the heading stage than in the sprouting stage in both the B195 and B245 lines. This study offers valuable insights into the genotypic variations in GRA and metabolites in the B195 and B245 broccoli genotypes.

Source: Food Chemistry X

DOI: 10.1016/j.fochx.2026.104690