The seed of rape (Brassica napus L.; in French, colza) furnishes on maceration a five-carbon unsaturated isothiocyanate,'liberated enzymatically, a higher homolog of the oil allyl isothiocyanate of black mustard (Brassica nigra). The precursor, named gluconapin, 2 has not been isolated in pure condition but presumably resembles sinigrin, the glucoside of allyl isothiocyanate. Interest in the mustard oil of rape originated from its supposed toxicity to ...
