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JASBB Baner text

Vol. 40 No. 1 (2024)

Articles

Amygdalin - analysis of its toxic and anticancer effects

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/jasbb.2024.5316
Submitted: December 7, 2023
Published: 2024-06-10

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.

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