Jon Krakauer1, Ying Long2, Andrew Kolbert2, Shri Thanedar2, Jonathan Southard3. 1. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, New York, NY (Mr Krakauer). Electronic address: arrigetch@gmail.com. 2. Avomeen Analytical Services, Ann Arbor, MI (Drs Long, Kolbert, and Thanedar). 3. Department of Chemistry, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA (Dr Southard).
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: For the past 2 decades there has been vigorous disagreement over the purported toxicity of Hedysarum alpinum seeds, and whether the consumption of such seeds was a factor in the 1992 death of Chris McCandless, the subject of the book Into the Wild. Our objective was to confirm or disprove the presence of L-canavanine (a nonprotein amino acid known to induce systemic lupuslike symptoms in humans) in H alpinum seeds. METHODS: Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis of H alpinum seeds was performed. RESULTS: Our analysis confirmed the presence of L-canavanine in H alpinum seeds and demonstrated that it is a significant component of the seeds, with a concentration of 1.2% (weight/weight), roughly half of that found in Canavalia ensiformis. CONCLUSIONS: The data led us to conclude it is highly likely that the consumption of H alpinum seeds contributed to the death of Chris McCandless.
OBJECTIVE: For the past 2 decades there has been vigorous disagreement over the purported toxicity of Hedysarum alpinum seeds, and whether the consumption of such seeds was a factor in the 1992 death of Chris McCandless, the subject of the book Into the Wild. Our objective was to confirm or disprove the presence of L-canavanine (a nonprotein amino acid known to induce systemic lupuslike symptoms in humans) in H alpinum seeds. METHODS: Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis of H alpinum seeds was performed. RESULTS: Our analysis confirmed the presence of L-canavanine in H alpinum seeds and demonstrated that it is a significant component of the seeds, with a concentration of 1.2% (weight/weight), roughly half of that found in Canavalia ensiformis. CONCLUSIONS: The data led us to conclude it is highly likely that the consumption of H alpinum seeds contributed to the death of Chris McCandless.