Amygdalin - analysis of its toxic and anticancer effects
Anna Winiarska-Mieczan
Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy w Lublinie, Instytut Żywienia Zwierząt i Bromatologii, ul. Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublinhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1981-7005
Małgorzata Kwiecień
Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy w Lublinie, Instytut Żywienia Zwierząt i Bromatologii, ul. Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublinhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8047-8682
Karolina Jachimowicz-Rogowska
Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy w Lublinie, Instytut Żywienia Zwierząt i Bromatologii, ul. Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublinhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7540-813X
Robert Krusiński
Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy w Lublinie, Instytut Żywienia Zwierząt i Bromatologii, ul. Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublinhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2988-1377
Abstract
Amygdalin, i.e. a cyanide glycoside present naturally in bitter almonds and seeds of many fruits, is a controversial substance, as it has been shown to be toxic but is used as an adjuvant in the treatment of cancer in alternative medicine. Furthermore, studies have shown that amygdalin has antitussive and diastolic effects and exerts a positive effect on the gastrointestinal system. Unhydrolyzed amygdalin has no toxic effect on the organism, but the decomposition products, mainly hydrogen cyanide, are toxic. It has been shown that amygdalin toxicity related to cyanide release requires microbial activity in the intestinal flora. Owing to the synthesis of such enzymes as rhodanase and hydroxocobalamin, herbivorous animals and humans have the ability to detoxify hydrogen cyanide and transform it into compounds with lower toxicity. The antitumor activity of amygdalin is believed to be associated with the cytotoxic activity of enzymatically released hydrogen cyanide and unhydrolyzed cyanogenic glycosides. Given the proven toxicity as well as the inconclusive and uncertain clinical effects, amygdalin cannot currently be recommended as adjunctive therapy to cancer patients. However, many aspects of the application of amygdalin have not been adequately studied to date; hence, further research is necessary to assess its true therapeutic potential.
Keywords:
amygdalin, metabolism, toxic effect, anticancer effectReferences
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Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy w Lublinie, Instytut Żywienia Zwierząt i Bromatologii, ul. Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1981-7005
Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy w Lublinie, Instytut Żywienia Zwierząt i Bromatologii, ul. Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8047-8682
Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy w Lublinie, Instytut Żywienia Zwierząt i Bromatologii, ul. Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7540-813X
Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy w Lublinie, Instytut Żywienia Zwierząt i Bromatologii, ul. Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2988-1377
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