Amygdalin: Toxicity, Anticancer Activity and Analytical Procedures for Its Determination in Plant Seeds

Amygdalin (d-Mandelonitrile 6-O-β-d-glucosido-β-d-glucoside) is a natural cyanogenic glycoside occurring in the seeds of some edible plants, such as bitter almonds and peaches. It is a medically interesting but controversial compound as it has anticancer activity on one hand and can be toxic via enzymatic degradation and production of hydrogen cyanide on the other hand. Despite numerous contributions on cancer cell lines, the clinical evidence for the anticancer activity of amygdalin is not fully confirmed. Moreover, high dose exposures to amygdalin can produce cyanide toxicity. The aim of this review is to present the current state of knowledge on the sources, toxicity and anticancer properties of amygdalin, and analytical methods for its determination in plant seeds.

Suspected cyanide toxicity in cattle associated with ingestion of laurel - a case report

Background Cyanide is one of the most rapidly acting toxins affecting cattle, with poisoning typically occurring following ingestion of cyanogenic plants. Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), is one such potentially toxic cyanogenic plant. This case report details fatalities in an Irish herd following the ingestion of laurel and aims to raise awareness of the potential risk that access to laurel hedges poses to farm animals. Case presentation Over a twelve-day period, the death occurred of 36 dairy-cross weanlings; the majority (22 weanlings) died over a two-day period. Two days following entry to a field bounded by a laurel hedge, the weanlings displayed signs of lethargy and profuse green diarrhoea. In the majority of animals there was a limited response to treatment with antimicrobials, vitamin B complex and fluid therapy. Recumbency and death ensued. Cyanosis was noted terminally. Two weanlings were submitted for post mortem examination. Laurel leaves were identified in the rumen contents of one weanling. Post mortem findings and additional test results on cohort animals suggested a number of pathological processes may have been involved in the animals, possibly complicating/exacerbating the effects of laurel ingestion. However, cyanide was considered a factor in a least some of the casualties and arrangements were made to test for cyanide on blood samples from a random selection of seven cohort animals. Although collected one week after exposure to the laurel hedge, toxic cyanide levels were recorded in a sample from one animal, which subsequently died. Conclusions The large fatality rate serves as a timely reminder to include plant poisoning as a differential diagnosis when dealing with large numbers of rapid fatalities. Failure to thoroughly examine rumen contents and collect a detailed history in this case, could easily have allowed death to be attributed to other causes and the involvement of cyanide toxicity to be missed. In cases of individual or group fatalities, history is invaluable and recent entry to new grazing areas or any potential diet change or access to garden plants should be thoroughly investigated.

UJI TOKSISITAS SODIUM SIANIDA (NaCN) PADA BEBERAPA SPESIES IKAN AIR TAWAR: REVIEW (The Toxicity Test of Sodium Cyanide (NaCN) to Some Species of Freshwater Fish: A Review)

AbstrakSianida telah digunakan sebagai senyawa toksik selama beberapa dekade untuk penangkapan ikan. Pengetahuan para nelayan yang rendah dapat menyebabkan kelebihan dosis penggunaan senyawa sianida. Hal ini dapat menyebabkan kematian ikan dan bahkan kerusakan terumbu karang. Sodium sianida tidak bersifat bioakumulasi dan biomagnifikasi berdasarkan nilai Kow-nya dan sebagian besar metabolit dikeluarkan melalui urin dalam bentuk thiosianat, SCN- (60-80%), 2-aminothiazoline-4-carboxylic acid (ATCA) atau 2-iminothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid, ITCA (15%), serta gas HCN dan CO2. Biomarker organisme yang terpapar sianida yaitu kandungan CN-, SCN-,ATCA atau ITCA pada urin dan darah; perubahan histopatologis di limpa, hepato-renal dan ginjal; penurunan aktivitas enzim katalase pada jaringan hati, insang, otak, dan otot ikan; perubahan aktivitas laktat dehydrogenase (LDH) dan suksinat dehydrogenase (SDH), tingkah laku, laju respirasi, dan metabolit (asam piruvat dan asam laktat). Akan tetapi, aktivitas enzim dan struktur histopatologis kembali normal setelah pemulihan selama 14 hari di medium bebas NaCN. Paparan NaCN juga dapat menyebabkan perubahan kecepatan renang dan durasi surfacing behavior. Konsentrasi sianida di lingkungan tidak bisa diabaikan, sebab dimungkinkan adanya efek sinergis dan juga penghambatan sistem enzim katalase, yang pada akhirnya terjadi kerentanan organisme akuatik terhadap toksisitas sianida. Labeo rohita merupakan spesies ikan air tawar yang paling sensitif terhadap paparan NaCN, dengan nilai LC50 sebesar 0,32 mg/L (tanpa melihat jenis aliran yang digunakan).AbstractCyanide has been used as a toxic compound for decades for fishing. Lack of knowledge of fishermen can lead to overdosing use of a compound. This can lead to fish kills and even damage the coral reefs. Sodium cyanide is not bioaccumulative and biomagnificative based on the value of Kow and most metabolites are excreted in the urine in the form of SCN- (60-80%), 2-aminothiazoline-4-carboxylic acid, ATCA or 2-iminothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid, ITCA (15%), as well as HCN gas and CO2. Biomarkers organisms are exposed cyanide content of CN-, SCN-, ATCA or ITCA on urine and blood; histopathological changes in spleen, hepato-renal and kidney; decreased activity of catalase enzyme in the liver, gills, brain, and muscles of fish; lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity changes, behavioral, respiratory rate, and metabolites (pyruvic acid and lactic acid). However, the enzyme activity and histopathological structure back to normal after recovery for 14 days at NaCN-free medium. NaCN exposure can also cause changes in swimming speed and duration of surfacing behavior. The concentration of cyanide in the environment can not be ignored, because it is possible the existence of a synergistic effect and also the inhibition of catalase enzyme system, which eventually happened vulnerability of aquatic organisms to cyanide toxicity. Labeo rohita is a freshwater fish species are most sensitive to exposure to NaCN, with LC50 values of 0.32 mg / L (regardless of the type of flow used).