Benzyl isothiocyanate

Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) is an isothiocyanate found in plants of the mustard family.

Benzyl isothiocyanate

Names
IUPAC name (Isothiocyanatomethyl)benzene
Identifiers
CAS Number	622-78-6
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	2256
ECHA InfoCard	100.009.777
PubChem CID	2346
UNII	871J6YOR8Q
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID0020155
InChI InChI=1S/C8H7NS/c10-7-9-6-8-4-2-1-3-5-8/h1-5H,6H2 Key: MDKCFLQDBWCQCV-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES c1ccc(cc1)CN=C=S
Properties
Chemical formula	C8H7NS
Molar mass	149.21 g·mol^−1
Density	1.125 g/mL[1]
Boiling point	242-243 [1]
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

Occurrence

It can be found in Alliaria petiolata, pilu oil, and papaya seeds[2] where it is the main product of the glucotropaeolin breakdown by the enzyme myrosinase.

Activity

Benzyl isothiocyanate, and other isothiocyanates in general, were found to be protective against pancreatic carcinogenesis in vitro[3] via expression of p21/WAF1 gene.[4] A recent published study showed its restraining impact on obesity, fatty liver, and insulin resistance in diet-induced obesity mouse model.[5]

References

1. "Benzyl isothiocyanate". Sigma-Aldrich.
2. Nakamura, Yoshimasa; Yoshimoto, Motoko; Murata, Yoshiyuki; Shimoishi, Yasuaki; Asai, Yumi; Park, Eun Young; Sato, Kenji; Nakamura, Yasushi (2007). "Papaya Seed Represents a Rich Source of Biologically Active Isothiocyanate". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 55 (11): 4407–13. doi:10.1021/jf070159w. PMID 17469845.
3. Kuroiwa, Yuichi; Nishikawa, Akiyoshi; Kitamura, Yasuki; Kanki, Keita; Ishii, Yuji; Umemura, Takashi; Hirose, Masao (2006). "Protective effects of benzyl isothiocyanate and sulforaphane but not resveratrol against initiation of pancreatic carcinogenesis in hamsters". Cancer Letters. 241 (2): 275–80. doi:10.1016/j.canlet.2005.10.028. PMID 16386831.
4. Moon, Sung-Kwon; Choi, Yung-Hyun; Kim, Cheorl-Ho; Choi, Won-Seok (2006). "P38MAPK mediates benzyl isothiocyanate-induced p21WAF1 expression in vascular smooth muscle cells via the regulation of Sp1". Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 350 (3): 662–8. doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2006.09.092. PMID 17026958.
5. Alsanea, Sary; Liu, Dexi (November 2017). "BITC and S-Carvone Restrain High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity and Ameliorate Hepatic Steatosis and Insulin Resistance". Pharmaceutical Research. 34 (11): 2241–2249. doi:10.1007/s11095-017-2230-3. ISSN 1573-904X. PMC 5757875. PMID 28733781.