Mass spectrometry coupled with molecular networking does not detect grayanotoxins in Monotropa uniflora L.

Mass spectrometry data for a targeted search for grayanotoxins I and II in 50 samples of Monotropa uniflora L. Commonly referred to as “ghost pipe,” Monotropa uniflora is a medicinal plant with a longstanding history of traditional use in the United States. It has been used as a treatment for a variety of ailments including spasms, inflammation, and pain, and has more recently grown in popularity online over the last decade. The sharing and promotion of ghost pipe through digital platforms has rapidly expanded the population of prospective ghost pipe consumers. However, little is known about the phytochemistry or safety of ghost pipe. A single study from 1889 reported the presence of grayanotoxin I in ghost pipe using colorimetric indicators, but there have been no subsequent studies to follow up this assertion. Grayanotoxin I is a neurotoxin found in the Ericaceae family, and if present in ghost pipe may cause toxic adverse effects to consumers. Therefore, there is a strong need to apply more sensitive measurements to either confirm or refute this claim of toxicity and improve general awareness of its safety (or lack thereof). We addressed this knowledge gap by using targeted mass spectrometry to investigate the possible presence of grayanotoxins I and II in a diverse sampling of M. uniflora extracts. The mass spectral analysis was unable to detect either grayanotoxin above the limit of detection across 50 ghost pipe samples. Furthermore, examination of the untargeted MS/MS fragmentation patterns yielded no compound signals within ghost pipe that shared structural similarities with the grayanotoxin skeleton. These results give clarity to a widely held concern regarding the safety of Monotropa uniflora due to the potential presence of these toxins.