Effect of Drying in Air on the Goiter-Producing Substance in Cabbage.

Abstract

It has been shown that fresh cabbage, steamed cabbage and cabbage from which 60% of its weight has been removed as press juice produce thyroid hyperplasia in rabbits when fed as their principal food. 1

It has also been shown that steamed hashed cabbage that has been kept exposed to air in a moist state for 4 to 5 days fully retains its goiter-producing quality. The goitrogenic substance was therefore heat stable and at least not readily lost when exposed to air in the moist state. As a further step in determining the nature of the goitrogenic substance in cabbage we have studied the effect of drying. No facilities were available for drying cabbage in vacuo in the amounts needed. Experiments were made with tested goitrogenic cabbage dried in 2 ways as follows:

1. Imported Holland winter cabbage was steamed for 30 minutes. The juice was pressed out under 450 lb. pressure and the pressed cake was then fed into an atmospheric double drum drier. Steam was introduced into the drums under 75 lb. pressure. The cabbage was in contact with the drums about 30 seconds and was automatically scraped off as nearly dry flakes. This material was at once transferred to covered containers in contact with solid CO₂ and kept over night, when it was stored in flasks and evacuated.

2. Northern New York winter cabbage (batch 21) was steamed for 35 minutes and 50% of its weight was removed as press juice. The leaves were then separated and put in trays in a current of air at room temperature. Drying was completed in about 36 hours and the product represented from 7 to 9% of the original whole steamed cabbage.