Studies on Endemic Goitre II. The Behaviour of 3-Methylsulphonylpropyl Isothiooyanate (Cheirolin) and Other Isothiocyanates in Bovine Rumen Liquor

Abstract

When incubated with bovine rumen liquor cheirolin (3-methylsulphonylpropyl isothiocyanate) has been shown to be converted into the disubstituted thiourea, dicheirolin thiourea, with traces of other identified compounds. At the pH tested, only one other isothiocyanate was found to undergo a similar conversion. The reaction is not enzyme dependent but appears to be catalysed by a metal ion. During studies of the behaviour of thioglucosides in rumen liquor the presence of thioglucosidases could not be demonstrated in this medium.