Validated approach for vicine, convicine and levodopa quantification from faba bean seeds by flow injection analysis high-field asymmetric waveform ion mobility mass spectrometry

Faba bean seeds are rich in proteins and a good source of levodopa, a nutraceutical compound. However, the presence of vicine and convicine in faba bean has limited its consumption as they could cause favism in people lacking the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. A quantification method for these three compounds was reported previously using a prototype high-field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) and TSQ Vantage triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (QqQ). In the current work, a similar method was developed with a commercial FAIMS Pro and TSQ Altis QqQ. The final approaches were validated for each platform, both provided good measurement accuracy and recovery, with the latter having a lower limit of quantification and a wider linear range (2.5-10x wider). These compounds were quantified from selected genotypes, the results indicated that levodopa levels in faba bean is genotype dependent, but had no direct correlation with the level of vicine or convicine.