Amygdalin
Amygdalin (from the Greek
αμυγδαλή, almond), C
20H
27NO
11, is a
glycoside isolated from bitter
almonds by H. E. Robiquet and A. F. Boutron-Charlard in 1830, andsubsequently investigated by
Liebig and
Wöhler, and others. Some sources claim
Ernst T. Krebs was the discoverer of the substance, and Krebs is generally credited with popularizing it as a purported cancer cure and as "Vitamin B17." It is extracted from almond cake by boiling
alcohol; on evaporation of the solution and the addition of
ether, amygdalin is precipitated as white minute crystals.
Sulfuric acid decomposes it into
d-glucose,
benzaldehyde, and prussic acid (
hydrogen cyanide); while
hydrochloric acid gives
mandelic acid, d-glucose, and
ammonia. The decomposition induced by enzymes may occur in two ways.
Maltase partially decomposes it, giving d-glucose and mandelic nitrile glucoside, C
6H
5CH(CN)O·C
6H
11O
5; this compound is isomeric with
sambunigrin, a glucoside found by E.E. Bourquelot and Danjou in the berriesof the common elder,
Sambucus nigra.
Emulsin, on the other hand, decomposes it into
benzaldehyde,
cyanide, and two molecules of
glucose; this
enzyme occurs in the
bitter almond, and consequently the seeds invariably contain free cyanide and benzaldehyde. An "amorphous amygdalin" is said to occur in the cherry-laurel. Closely related to these glucosides is
dhurrin, C
14H
17O
7N, isolated by W. Dunstan and T. A. Henry from the common
sorghum or "great millet,"
Sorghum vulgare; this substance is decomposed by
emulsin or hydrochloric acid into d-glucose, cyanide, and
p-hydroxybenzaldehyde.
Amygdalin is also called laevomandelonitrile, or
Laetrile (some claim that
Laetrile is derived from a
Latin word meaning "joyfulness" (actually laetari is the latin verb to rejoice or exult) for short, and has been advocated by some as a "cure" or a "preventative" for
cancer: as there is no scientifically accepted evidence of its efficacy, it has not been approved for this use by the
Food and Drug Administration. The US government's
National Institutes of Health reports that two clinical trials with laetrile have been published. One Phase I study found that amygdalin caused minimal side effects; the side effects that were seen were similar to the symptoms of
cyanide poisoning. One Phase II study with 175 patients had some patients reporting improvements in symptoms, but all patients showed cancer progression 7 months after completing treatment, and it was determined no further tests were necessary.
While no
double-blind clinical trials may have been conducted, a clinical trial was carried out in 1982 by the
Mayo Clinic and three other U.S. cancer centers under NCI sponsorship. Laetrile and "metabolic therapy" were administered as recommended by their promoters to 178 patients with advanced cancer for which there was no proven treatment. None were cured or stabilized or had any improvement of cancer-related symptoms. The
median survival rate was about five months. In survivors after seven months,
tumor size had increased. Several patients suffered from
cyanide poisoning.
In 1974, the
American Cancer Society officially labelled Laetrile as "
quackery," but even today many American and Canadian cancer patients travel to
Mexico for treatment with the substance, under the auspices of Dr.
Ernesto Contreras. One of these patients was actor
Steve McQueen who died while undergoing treatment in Mexico after developing
mesothelioma. Curiously, Laetrile's foremost advocates within the
United States can be found both on the far left of the political spectrum (e.g., The
Village Voice) and the far right (e.g., The
John Birch Society).
Though it is sometimes sold as "Vitamin B17", it is not a
vitamin, as no disease is associated with a dietary deficiency of Laetrile (while a great many people believe that cancer is related to such a lack of "B17," (and thus, that it can be used as cancer treatment) it has not been firmly established as medical fact). The product sold commercially is extracted from
apricot seeds, which are in the same genus (
Prunus) as the almond.
Jason Vale was the nation's leading
spokesperson for the legalization of Laetrile. He was a national
arm wrestling champion after he was cured of
kidney,
pancreatic and
spleen cancer, purportedly by eating
apricot seeds. However, in 2004 he was
convicted of fraud and sentenced to 63 months in prison for his methods of marketing Laetrile, for defrauding the U.S. government by claiming that he qualified for Legal Aid, and for criminal contempt. Representatives of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center testified on the side of the
prosecution during Vale's criminal trial.
Dr Dean Burk biochemist with a Ph.D. from Cornell Medical College
Dean Burk. in 1937 became Head of
National Cancer Institute(NCI) in the NCI's
Cytochemistry Section and headed this department for over three decades.
Andrew McNaughton of the
McNaughton Foundation requested a scientific experiment by Dr Burk of the (NCI), the results were a famous comment which was used in a
ED G Griffin documentary "A World Without Cancer" that "When we add "
laetrile" (Amygdalin) to a cancer culture under the microscope," "providing the enzyme
glucosidase also is present, we can see the cancer cells dying off like flies."
ref1 ref2He also claimed in Congressional testimony that Laetrile was less toxic than sugar
RefDr Dean Burk then when on to become a life long supporter of laetrile / Amygdalin as a Cancer prevention and cure.
Dr Deonarain Imperial CollegeOn Wednesday, 6 September, 2000 the British association Festival of science released a news story
cyanide targets cancer in which Dr Mahendra Deonarain explains how Imperial College scientists "engineered the enzyme"
ref 1 that The cassava plant, almond tree and hydrangea, all have, and that produces "
cyanide when it comes into contact with a particular sugar molecule"
ref 2 Dr Deonarain goes on to explain that this system would be "Tumour Specific."
ref 3.
Professor Monica Hughesa April 12, 1999 Published BBC News article explained the work of Professor Monica Hughes.Which has been focused on the
Cassava plant and
Tapioca which is derived from it. it is "It is one of many plants which manufactures cyanide to deter animals who might want to eat it."
ref and that "It does this by producing a chemical called linamarin which releases hydrogen cyanide when it is broken down by the linamarase
enzyme."
enzyme ref Professor Hughes' research has been funded by the
European Union, but her funding has now run out and she is looking for other sources.This is despite the fact that Spanish researchers claim/found that a brain tumour in a rat was totally
eradicated after one week of the genetic treatment that Dr Monica is working on. They found that the system allowed the localised release of small doses of cyanide through the breakdown of linamarin by linamarase.
Since
Laetrile has not been approved as a treatment for cancer in the United States by the
FDA,
doctors may not prescribe it specifically to cure cancer. However, it may be given to patients as a non-medicinal vitamin or food additive, used, purchased, and sold within the United States as long as no associated claims are made regarding curing cancer.
Amygdalin is commonly manufactured in Mexico where it is also used as a cancer treatment. But due to the controversial status of
Amygdalin, it may be banned or difficult to locate in some locations.
*
Personal Experiences*
National Cancer Institute - Laetrile*
Professor Monica Hughes - study on hydrogen cyanide and cancer with
tapioca and
cassava*
Moertel C and others. A clinical trial of amygdalin (Laetrile) in the treatment of human cancer. New England Journal of Medicine 306:201-206, 1982*
British Association Festival Of Science BBC news story
