cannetix Inc
Well-Known Member
Although there is very little information pertaining to the chemistry of Monotropa Uniflora in scholarly texts & journals, there are a number of sources that point to its historical use as an opium-substitute that has potent sedative properties, with some even claiming that large doses "can bring deep sleep and ultra-vivid dreams, often bizarre, frequently erotic"
http://vtherbcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Journal2014.pdf
Some sources suggest that this activity may be due to the presence of high concentrations of salicylic acid, while others suggest that the plant contains small quantities of Andromedotoxin.
Salicylic Acid is a naturally occurring phenolic acid that results from the metabolism of Salicin. Salicylic acid functions as both a plant hormone (in plant biology) and as the active metabolite of Aspirin (in medicine). Salicylic acid, like most other Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) suppress the activity of COX, an enzyme responsible for the production of pro-inflammatory compounds in the body. It is widely understood that COX-2 inhibitors have sedative and analgesic properties, and although Salicylic acid does not directly inhibit COX it is likely that it has some of the same sedative and analgesic properties through pathways that are not entirely understood.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4036408/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3091522
Andromedotoxin is a Grayanotoxin, which is a group of toxins found in several plant species, but primarily in Rhododendrons. Honey made from grayanotoxin containing plants can cause a very rare poisonous reaction called grayanotoxin poisoning, honey intoxication, or rhododendron poisoning. Honey produced from the nectar of Andromeda polifolia contains high enough levels of grayanotoxin to cause full body paralysis and potentially fatal breathing difficulties due to diaphragm paralysis. Honey containing grayanotoxin known as "deli bal" is still deliberately produced in the Caucasus region of Turkey and sold in 18th century Europe as an intoxicating beverage, according to sources provided on Wikipedia.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/oct/01/mad-honey-hot-honey-mead-buzz
https://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/CausesOfIllnessBadBugBook/
It would be interesting to see some in-depth research done in regards to the potential pharmacokinetics of this widely unknown plant species as well as a real chemical analysis. If anyone knows of any such information please share it here!