Estimation of Thiocyanate Content from Selected Cruciferous Vegetables

As per the studies conducted by the Indian Thyroid Society, it is suggested that one out of ten people in India suffer from hypothyroidism and these figures are likely to increase in the near future. According to the survey, women in the post-menopausal age group are more affected in comparison to men. Globally, the prevalence of hypothyroidism is 4-5%. Taking the same into consideration, a comparative study was undertaken to estimate the thiocyanate content in cruciferous vegetables such as Raphanus sativus (radish), Brassica rapa (turnip), Brassica okracea var. botrytis (cauliflower) Brassica oleracea (broccoli), Brassica clearccea var. botrytis (cabbage). Increased levels of thiocyanate often cause imbalance of the thyroid hormones by inhibiting iodine uptake thereby leading to hypothyroidism. Thiocyanate is therefore also employed in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. This study used 10 gram of sample extract in triplicates that were obtained from different markets, treated with ferric chloride leading to the formation of a colored complex and the amounts of thiocyanate was evaluated colorimetrically. It was observed that the thiocyanate content in cabbage was the highest followed by radish, turnip, broccoli and cauliflower. High thiocyanate content coupled with low iodine content go a long way in leading to goiter which is a clinical manifestation of any abnormality associated with thyroid gland. This leads us to very important conclusion that while ascertaining causes of any abnormalities of the thyroid gland that a person’s diet needs to be taken into consideration.