Convicine

Convicine is a naturally occurring chemical compound classified as a pyrimidine glycoside. It is found in seeds of several legume species, most notably the faba bean (Vicia faba), where it commonly co-occurs with vicine. Together, vicine and convicine are often referred to as the vicine–convicine family.

Chemically, convicine is the glucoside form of a pyrimidinone derivative. Like vicine, it is relatively inert in the intact glycoside form but can be hydrolyzed by digestive enzymes or gut microbiota to an aglycone that can participate in oxidative reactions, potentially contributing to oxidative stress in susceptible individuals.

In plants, convicine is thought to play a role in defense against pests and pathogens. Its production varies with cultivar, growing conditions, and seed maturation, and it is a target for breeding programs aiming to reduce anti-nutritional content in faba beans.

Health and safety: In individuals with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, hydrolysis products of vicine and convicine can induce hemolysis, a condition known as favism. Because of this risk, some faba bean products are avoided or specially processed for sensitive populations, and breeding has produced low-vicine/low-convicine varieties.

Analytical notes: Convicine content is typically measured by chromatographic methods such as HPLC or LC-MS. For readers seeking more detail, see vicine and favism.