An unproven method of cancer treatment. It is derived from apricot kernels and contains a chemical substance known as amygdaline, a poisonous compound that releases cyanide when acted upon by the body’s enzymes is forbidden in interstate commerce in the United States but is a legal drug in some states. To date, there is no scientific evidence that has any effects upon the prevention or treatment of cancer.
A compound having questionable nutritional value. It is extracted from apricot pits and contains cyanide (a poison). Other names of the compound include amygdalin and vitamin B17. Amygdalin is a p-cyanogenicglucoside. Neither the U.S. Lood and Drug Administration (EDA) nor its Canadian equivalent recognize this substance as a vitamin.
Chemical (amygdalin), derived from the seeds of apricots, plums, and some other fruits, that, when taken into the body, causes cyanide production. It has been publicized as a treatment for cancer, but there is no evidence that it is therapeutic.
A cyanide-containing compound extracted from peach stones. It has been used, despite the lack of evidence for its therapeutic value, in the treatment of various forms of cancer.
A glycoside derived from pits or other seed parts of plants, including apricots and almonds. Amygdalin contains sufficient cyanide to be fatal when taken in large doses. It has no known therapeutic or nutritional value. There is no evidence that it is effective in treating cancer. It is also known as vitamin B17.
An extract from apricot stones or almonds, sometimes also known as bitter almonds, vitamin B17, or amygdalin. In the mid-1970s, Ernst Krebs, Jr., promoted it as an alternative treatment for cancer. He maintained that it killed or inhibited cancer cells while having no adverse effects on healthy cells. In alternative medicine, it was the primary anticancer agent. Trials on its efficacy have proven inconclusive and inconsistent, and it has had unwelcome side effects for some patients. There is controversy in medical circles about its use. It appears to be most effective if used in conjunction with a modified diet, controlled lifestyle, and so on; then it becomes difficult to know how much of any improvement is due to laetrile. Laetrile contains, or releases in reaction with the body’s enzymes, small amounts of cyanide, which is a powerful poison and can be dangerous if the levels build up from overuse. Its use is illegal in some U.S. states. Laetrile’s popularity has diminished since the 1970s.