Amygdalin Chemical Properties

Melting point 

223-226 °C

alpha 

-38.5 º (c=4, H2O)

Boiling point 

563.27°C (rough estimate)

density 

1.4474 (rough estimate)

refractive index 

-40 ° (C=2, H2O)

storage temp. 

Sealed in dry,Room Temperature

solubility 

H₂O: 0.1 g/mL hot, clear to very faintly turbid, colorless

form 

Powder

pka

12.69±0.70(Predicted)

color 

White to Off-white

Description

Amygdalin is a cyanogenic glycoside that has been found in seeds from plants of the Rosaceae family and has diverse biological activities. It induces cell cycle arrest at the G₀/G₁ phase, decreases cyclin A and Cdk2 levels, and inhibits cell growth in UMUC-3, RT112, and TCCSUP bladder cancer cells when used at concentrations ranging from 1.25 to 10 mg/ml. Amygdalin (3 mg/kg) reduces the number of primary microtubules and microvessels in aortic rings isolated from rats with diabetes induced by streptozotocin . In vivo, amygdalin reduces triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL levels and aortic sinus plaque area in an LDLR^-/- mouse model of atherosclerosis. It also reduces production of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, as well as neutrophil and macrophage infiltration, in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in a mouse model of LPS-induced acute lung injury.

Chemical Properties

WHITE FINE CRYSTALLINE POWDER

Uses

antiinflammatory, experimental antineoplastic

Uses

Amygdalin, a cyanide containing glycoside, may be used as a substrate to identify, differentiate and characterize enzymes such as maltase(s), emulsin(s) and β-glucosidase(s).

Uses

A cyanogenic glycoside occurring in seeds of Rosaceae, principally in bitter almonds and peach and apricot pits. Some time ago it was said to be effective in the treatment of cancer, but controlled clinical trials repeatedly failed to confirm such claims.

Definition

ChEBI: An amygdalin in which the stereocentre on the cyanohydrin function has R-configuration.

World Health Organization (WHO)

Laetrile, which consists mainly of amydgalin, a glycoside extracted from the kernels of apricots, peaches and other fruits, has been available for over 30 years in preparations purporting to be beneficial in the treatment of cancer. Although there is no evidence that these are efficacious, preparations continued to be widely used and, until the late 1970s, they were considered to be harmless. However, oral dosage forms, which may be broken down in the gut to hydrogen cyanide, have subsequently been shown to be potentially lethal. This has resulted in restrictive regulatory measures in several countries.