GC-MS Analysis of the Extracts from Korean Cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. pekinensis) and Its Seed

Korean cabbage, a member of the Brassicaceae family which also includes cauliflower, mustard, radish, and turnip plants, is a crucial leafy vegetable crop. Korean cabbage is harvested after completion of the leaf heading process and is often prepared for use in “baechu kimchi”, a traditional Korean food. Many of the components in Korean cabbage are essential for proper human nutrition; these components can be divided into two groups: primary metabolites, which include carbohydrates, amino acids, fatty acids, and organic acids, and secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, carotenoids, sterols, phenolic acids, alkaloids, and glucosinolates (GSLs). Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, this study examined the variety of volatile compounds (including isothiocyanates) contained in Korean cabbage and its seed, which resulted in the identification of 16 and 12 volatile compounds, respectively. The primary volatile compound found in the cabbage was ethyl linoleolate (~23%), while 4,5-epithiovaleronitrile (~46%) was the primary volatile component in the seed.