LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Tests revealed that broccoli and Malabar spinach locally known as alugbati, contains glucosinolates, a kind of phytochemical that fights cancer cells.
It was found out that broccoli contains five glucosinolate compounds identified to be neoglucobrassicin, sinigrin as the internal standard and glucoraphanin which when transformed to sulforahane acts as an anti-cancer. In alugbati, the glucosinolate compounds identified were: glucolepidiin (ethylglucosinolate), allylglucosinolate (sinigrin), mercaptomethylglucosinolate, glucochaeirolin 6’ -0-sinapoyl--D-thioglucoside and another not yet identified.
Samples used for the tests were harvested from the experiment plots of BS in Agriculture students Margie Quirante for broccoli and Sherwin Ganado for alugbati. The experiment plots located in the BSU Generous Garden at the Balili organic farms were applied with various organic fertilizers.
The samples were sent to the Chemistry Department of De La Salle University in Manila. The analysis was done by Prof. Immanuel Garcia and Dr. Marissa Noel.
Further analysis also showed increase in the levels of phytochemicals in alugbati applied with organic fertilizers.
The application of alnus compost as base dress fertilizer of vegetable then supplemented with liquid bio-fertilizer (X-Tekh) or concentrated mineral drop (Amazing Harvest) increased glucolepidiin (ethylglucosinolate) and mercaptomethylglucosinolat.
On the other hand, a significant decrease in the levels of glucochaeirolin 6’ -0-sinapoyl--D-thioglucoside was observed as a result of synthetic fertilizer and pesticide application.
Organic broccoli and alugbati are available at the BSU Organic Market open from Monday to Saturday.
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