Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) is a naturally occurring
isothiocyanate
In organic chemistry, isothiocyanate is a functional group as found in compounds with the formula . Isothiocyanates are the more common isomers of thiocyanates, which have the formula .
Occurrence
Many isothiocyanates from plants are produce ...
whose precursor,
gluconasturtiin is found in some
cruciferous vegetables,
especially
watercress.
PEITC has been studied for its potential for
chemoprevention of cancers,
such as prostate cancer.
In terms of
biosynthesis
Biosynthesis, i.e., chemical synthesis occurring in biological contexts, is a term most often referring to multi-step, enzyme-Catalysis, catalyzed processes where chemical substances absorbed as nutrients (or previously converted through biosynthe ...
, PEITC is produced from
gluconasturtiin by the action of the enzyme
myrosinase.
References
Isothiocyanates
Phenyl compounds
{{Cruciferous Biochemistry