Natural or artificial: An example of topographic spatial distribution analysis of mescaline in cactus plants by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging
Frontiers in Plant Science February 10, 2023 Jiaman Lin, Shuo Yang, Jiaojiao Ji et al. 8 citations
Mescaline, the hallucinogenic compound found in certain cacti such as Trichocereus pachanoi and Lophophora williamsii, is not distributed uniformly in natural plants. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging, the spatial distribution of mescaline was mapped at macroscopic, tissue, and cellular levels. In natural plants, mescaline concentrated in active meristems, epidermal tissues, and protruding parts. Artificially spiked Lophophora diffusa products showed no such topographic difference, allowing natural and artificial products to be distinguished. The overlap of mescaline distribution with vascular bundles supported the known synthesis and transport theory of mescaline, suggesting the technique's potential for botanical research.