Glucosinolates
Glucosinolates are glycosides comonly present in many species of plants from (Brassicaceae), (Capparidaceae), (Resedaceae)family and some others. Untill 1961 were called as thioglucosides. Approximately 120 glucosinolates is known now.
Glucosinolates, more acuratelly number of their enzymatic and chemical fissure products, are important derogative components of feeds. That's related mostly to rape seeds and some sib oilseeds. It could seems, that breeding of new rape mutation with low or very low glucosinolates levels canceled derogative effects. They were significantly degreesed, but not negated.
Glucosinolates enzymatic hydrolyze and chemical degrade in different conditions. It is caused by group of isoenzymes, called myrosinase. Myrosinase concur with at least one glucosinolate. It was find out in all tested plants of (Brassicaceae)family, but also in some moulds or enteric bacteria Enterobacter cloacae. Enzyme is active in wide range of pH and is stability cca to 60 C.
From nutrition wiew is most important presence of glucosinolates in (Brassicaceae)family plants. In particular types of plants is usually present more kinds of glucosinolates - the most explored ones have 10 or 15, but most often predominate 2 or 3. For examle in rape seeds is around 10 glucosinolates, whereas progoitrin and gluconapin are 75 - 90 % of them.
Biologic effects
Effects od glucosinolates and their fission products on livestock are most explored in rape scrats mainly oil meat, which are fed as partial substitution of soya and other protein feeds.
Some fission products of glucosinolates evoke dsensation of pungency or bitterness and can evoke weeping, which can lead to decline of testiness thereby to feed intake and performance fall, eventually can pass to milk and eggs.
Some fission products are goitrogenic for birds and mammals and can also be harmful to liver and probably kidney and suprarenal gland too. Intake of glucosinolates leads to thyroid gland activity increment and it's hormons level in cirkulating blood decrement. In long-term glucosinolate intake start up thyriod gland hyperthophy, whereat it's weight get 2 or 5 times higher. These histologic changes are accompanied by changes in thyroid gland function.
Another significant disorder incidental to fission products of glucosinolates is liver bleeding. It can caused death in poultry, mainly layer. Pigs and ruminants are not endanger too much. This is probably in touch with different sensitiveness to different fussion products in digestive tract or detoxication of different animal's type.
Gucosinolates intake can cause fertlity decrease, but the mechanism is unknow till this time.