The Current Status of Laetrile

Dorr, Robert T.; Paxinos, James

doi:10.7326/0003-4819-89-3-389

Cited by 53 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…For instance, amygdalin may be specifically broken down by beta-glucosidase, which is abundant in cancer cells, and consequently cyanide is released onto the cancerous lesions wherein it exerts toxicity on the cancer cells. [37][38][39] Another suggestion is that amygdalin enhances the functions of pancreatic enzymes, which may prevent transformation of cancer primordial germ cells. 4,38) A third hypothesis is that amygdalin (vitamin B 17 ) restores the vitamin deficiency that could lead to metabolic disorders in cancer patients.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Amygdalin Induces Apoptosis through Regulation of Bax and Bcl-2 Expressions in Human DU145 and LNCaP Prostate Cancer Cells

Chang

Shin

Yang

et al. 2006

Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin

179

112

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Amygdalin (vitamin B 17 ; previously called laetrile) is one of many nitrilosides, which are natural cyanide-containing substances abundant in the seeds of prunasin family, plant such as apricots, almonds, peaches, apples, and other rosaceous plants. Among the prunasins, Armeniacae semen has been used for the treatment of asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, leprosy, colorectal cancer, leucoderma, and pain. [1][2][3] Amygdalin is composed of two molecules of glucose, one of benzaldehyde, which induces an analgesic action, and one of hydrocyanic acid, which is an anti-neoplastic compound. Apart from the above indications, amygdalin has been used to treat cancers and relieve pain. [4][5][6] In particular, D-amygdalin (D-mandelonitrile-b-D-gentiobioside) is known to exhibit selective killing effect on cancer cells. 7)Prostate cancer is one of the most common non-skin cancers in men. This malignant tumor most often arises in the outer part of the prostate, and as the tumor grows it metastasizes to the tissues around the prostate or into the seminal vesicles. 8)Apoptosis, also known as programmed cell death, occurs in several pathological situations in multicellular organisms and constitutes part of a common mechanism of cell replacement, tissue remodeling, and removal of damaged cells. Apoptosis is a complex process characterized by cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, and formation of "apoptotic bodies." 9) Two important groups of proteins involved in apoptotic cell death are the members of the Bcl-2 family 10) and a class of cysteine proteases known as caspases.11) The Bcl-2 family can be classified into two functionally distinct groups: antiapoptotic proteins and pro-apoptotic proteins. Bcl-2, an antiapoptotic protein, is known to regulate apoptotic pathways and protects against cell death. Bax, a pro-apoptotic protein of that family, is expressed abundantly and selectively during apoptosis and promotes cell death. Increasing the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax has commonly been used to determine the induction of apoptosis in several tissues.12) The caspases are aspartate-specific cysteine proteases that have emerged as the central executioner of apoptosis. Among the caspases, activation of caspase-3 is regarded as primary mechanism of apoptosis. 11,13) Caspase-3 can be activated through cytosolic release of cytochrome c by Bax protein. 14)Numerous studies have documented that induction of apoptosis is a very important mechanism in the spontaneous regression of tumors and in the development of anti-tumor agents.15) Apoptosis of tumor cells contributes to the tumor reduction and promotes tumor regression.16) Moreover, anticancer drugs are known to induce apoptosis of tumor cells by damaging their DNA, inhibiting DNA synthesis, depleting intracellular nucleotide pool, and disrupting mitotic apparatus. 17,18) In the present study, we prepared the aqueous extract of the amygdalin from Armeniacae semen and investigated whether this extract induces apoptotic cell death in human DU145 and LNCaP p...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Amygdalin Induces Apoptosis through Regulation of Bax and Bcl-2 Expressions in Human DU145 and LNCaP Prostate Cancer Cells

Chang

Shin

Yang

et al. 2006

Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin

179

112

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Animal and human tissues contain no significant concentrations of β-glucosidase, the only known enzyme that hydrolyzes cyanogenic glycosides. As a result, metabolic breakdown of the compound does not occur (Dorr and Paxinos, 1978). The cyanide yielding capacity of insufficiently processed cassava is mainly due to linamarin (in some products supplemented by acetonecyanohydrin) from which cyanide may be released in the gut by action of microbial enzymes.…”

Section: Absorption Distribution and Excretion Of Parent Cyanogenic mentioning

confidence: 99%

Opinion of the Scientific Panel on contaminants in the food chain [CONTAM] related to cyanogenic compounds as undesirable substances in animal feed

2007

EFSA Journal

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SUMMARYHydrogen cyanide (HCN) is formed following the enzymatic hydrolysis of cyanogenic glycosides, which are produced as secondary metabolites by various plant species. In the intact plant these cyanogenic compounds are stored separated from hydrolytic enzymes. Crushing of plant materials either by technical processes or by chewing by animals obliterates this separation and initiates the enzymatic hydrolysis of cyanogenic compounds, resulting ultimately in the formation of HCN. Hydrolysis to release HCN can also be accomplished by microorganisms in the digestive tract.

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“…(16), amigdalinin tümör büyümesini inhibe edici ve tümör oluşumuna karşı koruyucu etkileri olduğunu saptamışlar-dır. Amigdalinin ağız yoluyla alınmasını takiben emülsin enzimi (40) veya gastrointestinal sistemde bulunan ve buradaki bakteriler tarafından sentezlenen β-glikosidaz enzimi (12) ile büyük oranda hidrolize uğratılması sonucunda prunasin, glikoz, mandelonitril, benzaldehid ve HCN açığa çıkar (18). Siyanürün etkidiği hedef enzim, mitokondriyal oksijenli solunum zincirinin terminal oksidazı olan sitokrom oksidazdır ve inhibisyonu sonucu hücrelerde histotoksik anoksiya meydana gelir (23).…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Kobaylarda amigdalinin elektrokardiyogram ve kan nitrik oksit düzeyine etkisi

ŞİRELİ¹

2007

Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi

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Özet: Araştırmada amigdalinin kobaylarda elektrokardiyogram ve kan nitrik oksit (NO) düzeyi üzerine etkileri incelendi. 32 kobay, bir kontrol ve geri kalan üç grup deney grupları olacak şekilde dört gruba ayrıldı ve 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg ve 200 mg/kg dozunda amigdalin tek doz, ağız yoluyla uygulandı. Uygulamayı takiben elektrokardiyografi çekimleri yapıldı ve serumda NO konsantrasyonları belirlendi. Serum NO miktarının kontrol grubuna göre sırasıyla 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg ve 200 mg/kg dozunda amigdalin uygulanan gruplarda istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir şekilde arttığı (p<0.05) görüldü. Ayrıca IV. gruba ait serum NO miktarının II. gruba göre istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir şekilde (p<0.05) yüksek olduğu belirlendi. Q-T aralığı süresinin 100 mg/kg ve 200 mg/kg amigdalin uygulanan gruplarda, kontrol grubu ve 50 mg/kg amigdalin uygulanan gruba göre istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir biçimde azaldığı (p<0.05) görüldü. Kalp atım sayısın, 100 mg/kg ve 200 mg/kg amigdalin verilen hayvanlarda kontrol grubu ve 50 mg/kg amigdalin uygulanan hayvanlara göre istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir biçimde yükseldiği (p<0.05) belirlendi. Öte yandan, 200 mg/kg amigdalin grubunda bazı hayvanlarda hipoksik EKG değişimleri tespit edildi. Sonuç olarak, gözlenen bu değişimler ilacın kardiyovasküler problemlere yol açabileceğini göstermektedir.Anahtar sözcükler: Amigdalin, elektrokardiyogram, kobay, nitrik oksit. The effect of amygdalin on electrocardiogram and blood nitric oxide levels in guinea pigsSummary: In this study the effects of amygdalin on electrocardiogram and blood nitric oxide (NO) levels in guinea pigs were investigated. 32 male, albino guinea-pigs were randomly assigned to one control and three experiment groups. One dose of 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg amygdalin dissolved in distilled water were given to the second, third and fourth groups using gastric cathater. One hour after the drug administration, electrocardiography measurements were recorded and serum NO levels were determined. When the serum NO levels of the second, third, and fourth groups were compared to the serum NO level of the control group, each of the differences was found statistically significant (p<0.05). Moreover, the serum NO level of the fourth group was statistically significantly different from the second group (p<0.05). A statistically significant decrease was observed in the Q-T interval durations of 100 mg/kg (0.126±0.006 sn) and 200 mg/kg (0.120±0.001 sn) amygdalin administred groups as they were compared to the control (0.156 ± 0.009 sn) and to the 50 mg/kg (0.147 ± 0.004 sn) amygdalin administred groups. The heart rate increased statistically significantly in 100 mg/kg (246 ± 11 bpm) and 200 mg/kg (253 ± 12 bpm) amygdalin administred groups when they were compared to the control and to the second groups. In the 200 mg/kg amygdalin administred group, we observed IIº AV block at the rate of 25 %, S-T segment elevation at the rate of 25 %, an increase in T wave amplitudes at the rate of 12.5 %, though those observations were not found statistical...

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The Current Status of Laetrile

Cited by 53 publications

References 23 publications

Amygdalin Induces Apoptosis through Regulation of Bax and Bcl-2 Expressions in Human DU145 and LNCaP Prostate Cancer Cells

Amygdalin Induces Apoptosis through Regulation of Bax and Bcl-2 Expressions in Human DU145 and LNCaP Prostate Cancer Cells

Opinion of the Scientific Panel on contaminants in the food chain [CONTAM] related to cyanogenic compounds as undesirable substances in animal feed

Kobaylarda amigdalinin elektrokardiyogram ve kan nitrik oksit düzeyine etkisi

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