Apricot kernel
An apricot kernel (Prunus armeniaca, "Armenian plum" in Latin) refers to the kernel of a species of Prunus, classified with the plum in the subgenus Prunus. It is known for containing amygdalin, a toxic cyanogenic glycoside.
Apricot kernels can sometimes be strong-tasting and bitter. They feature in recipes for apricot jam, and Italian amaretto cookies and liqueur.[citation needed] Taken in excess, they may produce symptoms of cyanide poisoning, including nausea, fever, rash, headaches, insomnia, increased thirst, weakness, lethargy, nervousness, various aches and pains in joints and muscles, a drop in blood pressure. Amygdalin, also referred to as laetrile or vitamin B17, was popularized as a cancer treatment by the chemist Ernst T. Krebs.[1] [2] A clinical trial of amygdalin was carried out in 1982 by the Mayo Clinic and three other US cancer centers under National Cancer Institute sponsorship, and found that, "No substantive benefit was observed in terms of cure..." and more than 2 of the 178 patients suffered from cyanide toxicity. [3]
In 1993, The State Department of Agriculture and Markets of New York tested the cyanide content of two 8oz. packages of the bitter kernel which were being sold in health food stores as a health snack. The results returned showed that each package, if consumed entirely, contained at least double the lethal dosage of cyanide needed to kill a human being. [4] In spite of this, there were no USA deaths and only 1 serious toxicity from apricot kernels reported from 1979 to 1998.[5] On average, an apricot kernel contains about 0.5mg of cyanide.
Nutritional content
Oil from apricot kernels contains, ea 100 grams:
- Calories: 883
- Calories from fat: 100%
- Total fat: 100 g
- Saturated fat: 6.3 g
- Monounsaturated fat: 60 g
- Polyunsaturated fat: 29.3 g
- Total fat: 100 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Vitamins
- Vitamin A: 0
- Vitamin C: 0
- Vitamin E: 4 mg (13% DV)
- Vitamin K: 0
- Vitamin B6: 0
- Vitamin B12: 0
- Minerals (calcium, iron, etc): 0
References
- ^ "Laetrile". American Cancer Society. 2005-01-06. Retrieved 2007-02-07.
- ^ Milazzo, Stefania (2006-11-15). "Laetrile for cancer: a systematic review of the clinical evidence". Supportive Care in Cancer. 15: 583. doi:10.1007/s00520-006-0168-9.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Moertel, C.G., (1982). "A clinical trial of amygdalin (laetrile) in the treatment of human cancer" (abstract). N. Engl. J. Med. (306): 201–206. PMID 7033783.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Imported Bitter Apricot Pits Recalled as Cyanide HazardBy DENNIS HEVESI Published: Friday, March 26, 1993 - The New York Times
- ^ Acute cyanide toxicity caused by apricot kernel in...(Ann Emerg Med. 1998) - PubMed