Glucosinolates are nitrogen-and sulfur-containing natural products found mainly in the family Brassicaceae, order Capparales. The glucosinolates and their metabolites have showed potent biological activities. Recently, the relationship between glucosinolates and other compounds biosynthesis and the interaction between glucosinolates and environment have been paid more attention. We introduced chemical structures and the distribution of glucosinolates, glucosinolate-myrosinase system, the biological processes directed by glucosinolates in plant defence on insects and pathogen and plant chemical allelopathy.