[en] Glucosinolates are a class of ca. 120 secondary plant metabolites generally found in
Brassicaceae. These compounds have a similar structure characterised by a common part
containing a beta thioglucose coupled with a sulfonated oxim group and by a variable organic
side chain constituted with alkyl, alcenyl, hydroxy-alcenyl, aryl, indolyl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl or
thio residues. Present in high or low level (00 varieties) in rapeseed/canola seeds and in
rapeseed/canola meals, these molecules are easily broken down during animal digestion,
leading to compounds with detrimental and antinutritional characteristics. They are known to
interfere with the thyroid and to damage vital organs (Fenwick et al., 1983).
