Amygdalin (CHEM000725)

IdentificationTaxonomyBiological PropertiesPhysical PropertiesToxicity ProfileSpectraConcentrationsLinksReferencesXML
Record Information
Version1.0
Creation Date2009-06-05 21:22:26 UTC
Update Date2026-04-03 01:06:11 UTC
Accession NumberCHEM000725
Identification
Common NameAmygdalin
ClassSmall Molecule
DescriptionAmygdalin is found in almond. Bitter glycoside of the Rosaceae, found especially in kernels of cherries, peaches and apricots. Amygdalin is present in cold pressed bitter almond oil from the above sources prior to enzymic hydolysis and steam distillation for food use Amygdalin , C20H27NO11, is a glycoside initially isolated from the seeds of the tree Prunus dulcis, also known as bitter almonds, by Pierre-Jean Robiquet and A. F. Boutron-Charlard in 1803, and subsequently investigated by Liebig and Wohler in 1830, and others. Several other related species in the genus of Prunus, including apricot (Prunus armeniaca) and black cherry (Prunus serotina), also contain amygdalin. It was promoted as a cancer cure by Ernst T. Krebs under the name Vitamin B17, but studies have found it to be ineffective. Amygdalin is sometimes confounded with laevomandelonitrile, also called laetrile for short; however, amygdalin and laetrile are different chemical compounds. Amygdalin has been shown to exhibit anti-nociceptive and apoptotic functions (1, 2). Amygdalin belongs to the family of Dihexoses. These are disaccharides containing two hexose carbohydrates.
Contaminant Sources
  • FooDB Chemicals
  • T3DB toxins
Contaminant Type
  • Cyanide Compound
  • Cyanogenic Glycoside
  • Ether
  • Food Toxin
  • Metabolite
  • Natural Compound
  • Nitrile
  • Organic Compound
  • Plant Toxin
Chemical Structure
Thumb
MOLSDFPDBSMILESInChI
Synonyms
ValueSource
AmygdalosideChEBI
Mandelonitrile-beta-gentiobiosideChEBI
Mandelonitrile-b-gentiobiosideGenerator
Mandelonitrile-β-gentiobiosideGenerator
LaetrileMeSH
Mandelonitrile beta gentiobiosideMeSH
NeoamygdalinMeSH
Chemical FormulaC20H27NO11
Average Molecular Mass457.429 g/mol
Monoisotopic Mass457.158 g/mol
CAS Registry Number29883-15-6
IUPAC Name2-phenyl-2-{[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-({[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy}methyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy}acetonitrile
Traditional Nameamygdalin
SMILES[H]C(O[C@]1([H])O[C@]([H])(CO[C@]2([H])O[C@]([H])(CO)[C@@]([H])(O)[C@]([H])(O)[C@@]2([H])O)[C@@]([H])(O)[C@]([H])(O)[C@@]1([H])O)(C#N)C1=CC=CC=C1
InChI IdentifierInChI=1S/C20H27NO11/c21-6-10(9-4-2-1-3-5-9)30-20-18(28)16(26)14(24)12(32-20)8-29-19-17(27)15(25)13(23)11(7-22)31-19/h1-5,10-20,22-28H,7-8H2/t10?,11-,12-,13-,14-,15+,16+,17-,18-,19-,20-/m1/s1
InChI KeyXUCIJNAGGSZNQT-SWRVSKMJSA-N
Chemical Taxonomy
Description belongs to the class of organic compounds known as cyanogenic glycosides. These are glycosides in which the aglycone moiety contains a cyanide group.
KingdomOrganic compounds
Super ClassOrganic oxygen compounds
ClassOrganooxygen compounds
Sub ClassCarbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates
Direct ParentCyanogenic glycosides
Alternative Parents
Substituents
  • Cyanogenic glycoside
  • Disaccharide
  • O-glycosyl compound
  • Monocyclic benzene moiety
  • Oxane
  • Benzenoid
  • Secondary alcohol
  • Polyol
  • Nitrile
  • Carbonitrile
  • Acetal
  • Organoheterocyclic compound
  • Oxacycle
  • Primary alcohol
  • Alcohol
  • Organonitrogen compound
  • Hydrocarbon derivative
  • Organopnictogen compound
  • Organic nitrogen compound
  • Aromatic heteromonocyclic compound
Molecular FrameworkAromatic heteromonocyclic compounds
External Descriptors
Biological Properties
StatusDetected and Not Quantified
OriginExogenous
Cellular Locations
  • Cytoplasm
  • Extracellular
  • Membrane
Biofluid LocationsNot Available
Tissue LocationsNot Available
PathwaysNot Available
ApplicationsNot Available
Biological RolesNot Available
Chemical RolesNot Available
Physical Properties
StateSolid
AppearanceWhite powder.
Experimental Properties
PropertyValue
Melting Point214°C
Boiling PointNot Available
SolubilityNot Available
Predicted Properties
PropertyValueSource
Water Solubility35.3 g/LALOGPS
logP-1.3ALOGPS
logP-2.6ChemAxon
logS-1.1ALOGPS
pKa (Strongest Acidic)11.91ChemAxon
pKa (Strongest Basic)-3ChemAxon
Physiological Charge0ChemAxon
Hydrogen Acceptor Count12ChemAxon
Hydrogen Donor Count7ChemAxon
Polar Surface Area202.32 ŲChemAxon
Rotatable Bond Count7ChemAxon
Refractivity102.51 m³·mol⁻¹ChemAxon
Polarizability43.19 ųChemAxon
Number of Rings3ChemAxon
Bioavailability0ChemAxon
Rule of FiveNoChemAxon
Ghose FilterNoChemAxon
Veber's RuleNoChemAxon
MDDR-like RuleYesChemAxon
Spectra
Spectra
Spectrum TypeDescriptionSplash KeyView
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positivesplash10-001i-0910500000-6c1a1ef69fd6abcbb7a4Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positivesplash10-00lr-0900000000-2cc0464d08db7cab19deSpectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positivesplash10-00lr-2900000000-3ed6fced910b98791074Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Negativesplash10-0a59-2920600000-01b14e785ae238b904a5Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Negativesplash10-001i-2900100000-03639fa8d97b0aa1e3b7Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Negativesplash10-003r-6900000000-747d6394cb49483cdce0Spectrum
Toxicity Profile
Route of ExposureNot Available
Mechanism of ToxicityAmygdalin can be metabolized into hydrogen cyanide in the stomach causing discomfort or illness. (5) Organic nitriles decompose into cyanide ions both in vivo and in vitro. Consequently the primary mechanism of toxicity for organic nitriles is their production of toxic cyanide ions or hydrogen cyanide. Cyanide is an inhibitor of cytochrome c oxidase in the fourth complex of the electron transport chain (found in the membrane of the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells). It complexes with the ferric iron atom in this enzyme. The binding of cyanide to this cytochrome prevents transport of electrons from cytochrome c oxidase to oxygen. As a result, the electron transport chain is disrupted and the cell can no longer aerobically produce ATP for energy. Tissues that mainly depend on aerobic respiration, such as the central nervous system and the heart, are particularly affected. Cyanide is also known produce some of its toxic effects by binding to catalase, glutathione peroxidase, methemoglobin, hydroxocobalamin, phosphatase, tyrosinase, ascorbic acid oxidase, xanthine oxidase, succinic dehydrogenase, and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase. Cyanide binds to the ferric ion of methemoglobin to form inactive cyanmethemoglobin. (4)
MetabolismBeta-glucosidase, one of the enzymes that catalyzes the release of the cyanide from amygdalin, is present in human small intestine and in a variety of common foods. This leads to an unpredictable and potentially lethal toxicity when amygdalin or Laetrile is taken orally. (5) Organic nitriles are converted into cyanide ions through the action of cytochrome P450 enzymes in the liver. Cyanide is rapidly absorbed and distributed throughout the body. Cyanide is mainly metabolized into thiocyanate by either rhodanese or 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfur transferase. Cyanide metabolites are excreted in the urine. (3)
Toxicity ValuesNot Available
Lethal DoseNot Available
Carcinogenicity (IARC Classification)No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC).
Uses/SourcesFruit seeds and pits. (5)
Minimum Risk LevelNot Available
Health EffectsNot Available
SymptomsNot Available
TreatmentNot Available
Concentrations
Not Available
DrugBank IDNot Available
HMDB IDNot Available
FooDB IDNot Available
Phenol Explorer IDNot Available
KNApSAcK IDNot Available
BiGG IDNot Available
BioCyc IDNot Available
METLIN IDNot Available
PDB IDNot Available
Wikipedia LinkAmygdalin
Chemspider IDNot Available
ChEBI ID27613
PubChem Compound ID34751
Kegg Compound IDNot Available
YMDB IDNot Available
ECMDB IDNot Available
References
Synthesis ReferenceNot Available
MSDSNot Available
General ReferencesNot Available