foods Article Sisymbrium Officinale (the Singers’ Plant) as an Ingredient: Analysis of Somatosensory Active Volatile Isothiocyanates in Model Food and Drinks Patrizia De Nisi 1, Gigliola Borgonovo 2, Samuele Tramontana 2, Silvia Grassi 2 , Claudia Picozzi 2 , Leonardo Scaglioni 2, Stefania Mazzini 2 , Nicola Mangieri 2 and Angela Bassoli 2,* 1 Gruppo Ricicla, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences-DISAA, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, I-20133 Milano, Italy;
[email protected] 2 Department of Food, Environment and Nutrition-DeFENS, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, I-20133 Milano, Italy;
[email protected] (G.B.);
[email protected] (S.T.);
[email protected] (S.G.);
[email protected] (C.P.);
[email protected] (L.S.);
[email protected] (S.M.);
[email protected] (N.M.) * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +39-0250316815 Abstract: Sisymbrium officinale (L.) Scop. (hedge mustard) is a wild common plant of the Brassicaceae family. It is known as “the singers’ plant” for its traditional use in treating aphonia and vocal disability. The plant is rich in glucosinolates and isothiocyanates; the latter has been demonstrated to be a strong agonist in vitro of the Transient Receptor Potential Ankirine 1 (TRPA1) channel, which is involved in the somatosensory perception of pungency as well as in the nociception pathway of inflammatory pain. Volatile ITCs are released by the enzymatic or chemical hydrolysis of GLSs (glucosinolates) Citation: De Nisi, P.; Borgonovo, G.; during sample crushing and/or by the mastication of fresh plant tissues when the plant is used Tramontana, S.; Grassi, S.; Picozzi, C.; as an ingredient.