UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS-based metabolic profiling of Vicia faba L. (Fabaceae) seeds as a key strategy for characterization in foodomics

Vicia faba (Fabaceae) is a popular food in many countries and a good source of nutrients. However, little is known about its phytochemical composition, specially referring to phenolic compounds. In the present work, the dietary metabolites from a hydro-methanolic extract of V. faba seeds were thoroughly characterized by a nontargeted analytical approach based on reversed-phase ultra-HPLC (UHPLC) coupled to QTOF-MS. A total of 155 primary and secondary metabolites of various structural types were characterized: carbohydrates, amino acids, organic acids, alkaloids, terpenoids, jasmonates, and, mainly, polyphenols. Among the latter group, 73 compounds were characterized for the first time in this legume. In addition, 24 new structures, belonging to jasmonates and glycosylated N-containing compounds, were also proposed. Thus, this methodology could be implemented in foodomics as a characterization strategy to complement the knowledge of the phytochemical composition of vegetables.