Development and Identification of Anti-cancer Component of Sulforaphane in Developmental Stages of Broccoli ( Brassica oleracea var . italica L . )

Broccoli is a rich source of sulforaphane, an anti-cancer component. In the study, four broccoli lines were chosen to characterize the variation of sulforaphane among different organs and developmental stages by RP-HPLC. The result showed different changing rule of sulforaphane contents in the whole develop period. The contents in leaves were in the lowest level of the whole period, peaking 28 to 33 days after planting. The content of sulforaphane in florets was correspondingly higher in leaves part during mature stage. An interesting phenomenon happened in developmental buds, and the contents of sulforahane in buds decreased gradually from the top buds to mature buds, to buds one day before flowering and to flowers at bolting stage. Another new finding was that they increased gradually in seed pod and decreased in pod areas at developmental pod stage. Sulforaphane in seedlings decreased gradually in first ten days and then began to rise. Ripe seed contained the highest sulforaphane (3051.03 to 4624.63 mg·kg -1 FW). The study revealed the variation of sulforaphane content in developmental stages of broccoli, and the result provided scientific basis for anti-cancer research and human nutrition.