Flavonol glycosides in Brassica and Sinapis

The 7-glucosides and 3,7-diglucosides of kaempferol and isorhamnetin were identified in leaves and flowers of Sinapis arvensis. Additionally, the 3-sophoroside-7-glucosides of kaempferol, quercetin and isorhamnetin were found in leaves of S. arvensis and Brassica oleracea. Two dimensional surveys of leaf extracts of 27 species and cultivars of Brassica and Sinapis showed that the same pattern occurred in most species. B. tournefortii and S. flexuosa were exceptional in having flavonol 3-monosides and 3-diglycosides instead. The results suggest that it is the glycosidic patterns, rather than the distribution of the flavonol aglycones, which are likely to be of taxonomic value for distinguishing groups of species or genera within the Cruciferae.