Assessing the Fate and Bioavailability of Glucosinolates in Kale (Brassica oleracea) Using Simulated Human Digestion and Caco-2 Cell Uptake Models

DC). In fresh kale, glucoraphanin, sinigrin, gluconapin, gluconasturtiin, glucoerucin, glucobrasscin, and 4-methoxylglucobrassicin were identified. After 120 min of gastric digestion, the levels of glucoraphanin, sinigrin, and gluconapin decreased, and no glucoerucin or glucobrasscin was detected. However, a concomitant increase in the glucosinolate hydrolysis products allyl nitrile, 3-butenyl isothiocyanate, phenylacetonitrile, and sulforaphane was observed. This trend continued through intestinal digestion. After 120 min, the levels of allyl nitrile, 3-butenyl isothiocyanate, phenylacetonitrile, and sulforaphane were 88.19 ± 5.85, 222.15 ± 30.26, 129.17 ± 17.57, and 13.71 ± 0.62 pmol/g fresh weight, respectively. Intestinal digesta were then applied to Caco-2 cell monolayers to assess the bioavailability. After 6 h of incubation, no glucosinolates were detected and the percentage of total cellular uptake of the glucosinolate hydrolysis products ranged from 29.35% (sulforaphane) to 46.60% (allyl nitrile).