ARS | Publication request: Purification of glucosinolates from Camelina sativa

Submitted to: Phytochemical Society of North America Meeting and Newsletter
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: June 30, 2008
Publication Date: June 30, 2008
Citation: Berhow, M.A., Vaughn, S.F., Tisserat, B., Duval, S.M. 2008. Purification of glucosinolates from Camelina sativa. Phytochemical Society of North America Meeting and Newsletter. p. 121.

Technical Abstract: Camelina sativa (Gold-of-pleasure or false flax) has been cultivated as an oilseed crop for centuries, and has been used as both a fuel oil and an edible oil. Current research efforts centers on its exceptionally high levels of omega-3 fatty acids which is uncommon in vegetable oils, as well as rich levels of antioxidants, such as tochopherols, which make the oil naturally stable. Interest in the use of camelina as a functional food and as a biodiesel continues to grow. Finding additional uses for the press cake material left over after oil removal will make the crop more economically competitive. The press cake contains a number of interesting phytochemicals, including the flavonoid rutin (quercetin 3-O-rutinoside) and three relatively unique glucosinolates: glucocamelinin (10-(methylsulfinyl)decyl-glucosinolate), glucoarabin (9-(methylsulfinyl)nonyl-glucosinolate) and 11-(methylsulfinyl)undecyl-glucosinolate. These glucosinolates have not been assessed for their phytochemical activities in the plant or their nutritional/pharmacological roles in animals due to the lack of availability of purified standards for study. Using defatted seed material, we have developed a method to isolate mg quantities of these glucosinolates using a combination of reverse phase flash and preparative HPLC methods.