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July 13, 1979, Vol 242, No. 2 >
ARTICLE | July 13, 1979

Studies of Amygdalin (Laetrile) Toxicity in Rodents FREE

Janardan D. Khandekar, MD; Harlan Edelman
[+] Author Affiliations

Reprint requests to Evanston Hospital, 2650 Ridge Ave, Evanston, IL 60201 (Dr Khandekar).


JAMA. 1979;242(2):169-171. doi:10.1001/jama.1979.03300020039023
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References

Amygdalin (laetrile), given to Fischer 344 rats in doses of 250, 500, and 750 mg/kg intraperitoneally daily for five days, caused mortalities of 30.8%, 44.1%, and 56.8%, respectively. The mode of death and the elevated serum cyanide levels in the dying animals strongly suggested cyanide poisoning as the cause of death. These findings seriously question the use of amygdalin in clinical medicine under any circumstances.

(JAMA 242:169-171, 1979)

REFERENCES

1 +
Benson WR, Fenselau C, Pallante S, et al:  Mandelonitrile β-glucuronide: Synthesis and characterization . Science 198:625-627, 1977;.
2 +
Wodinsky I, Swiniarski JK:  Antitumor activity of amygdalin MF (NSC 15780) as a single agent and with beta-glucosidase (NSC-128056) on a spectrum of transplantable rodent tumors . Cancer Chemother Rep 59(pt (1) )939-950, 1975;.
3 +
Laster WR Jr, Schabel FM Jr:  Experimental studies of the antitumor activity of amygdalin MF (NSC-15780) alone and in combination with beta-glucosidase (NSC-128056) . Cancer Chemother Rep 59(pt (1) ):951-956, 1975;.
4 +
Hill GJ, Shine TE, Hill HZ, et al:  Failure of amygdalin to arrest B16 melanoma and BW 5147 AKR leukemia . Cancer Res 36:2102-2107, 1976;.
5 +
Stock CC, Tarnowski GS, Schmid FA, et al:  Antitumor tests of amygdalin in transplantable animal tumor systems . J Surg Oncol 10:81-88, 1978;.
6 +
Stock CC, Martin DS, Sugiura K, et al:  Antitumor tests of amygdalin in spontaneous animal tumor systems . J Surg Oncol 10:89-123, 1978;.
7 +
Ovejera AA, Houchens DP, Barker AD, et al:  Inactivity of DL-amygdalin against human breast and colon tumor xenografts in athymic (nude) mice . Cancer Treat Rep 62:576-578, 1978;.
8 +
Relman AS:  Laetrilomania—again . N Engl J Med 298:215-216, 1978;.
9 +
 Federal court affirms pro-laetrile ruling . Science 201:326, 1978;.
10 +
Khandekar JD, Dardachti D, Garg BD, et al:  Hepatic fine structural changes and microsomal hypofunction in Walker tumor-bearing rats . Cancer 29:738-743, 1972;.
11 +
Graham DL, Laman D, Theodore J, et al:  Acute cyanide poisoning complicated by lactic acidosis and pulmonary edema . Arch Intern Med 137:1051-1055, 1977;.
12 +
Schmidt ES, Newton GW, Sanders SM, et al:  Laetrile toxicity studies in dogs . JAMA 239:943-947, 1978;.
13 +
Freireich EJ, Gehan EA, Rall DP, et al:  Quantitive comparison of toxicity of anticancer agents in mouse, rat, hamster, dog, monkey, and man . Cancer Chemother Rep 50:219-244, 1966;.
14 +
Lewis JP:  Laetrile . West J Med 127:55-62, 1977;.
15 +
Smith FP, Butler TP, Cohan S, et al:  Laetrile toxicity: A report of two patients . Cancer Treat Rep 62:169-171, 1978;.
16 +
Sadoff L, Fuchs K, Hollander J:  Rapid death associated with laetrile ingestion . JAMA 238:482, 1977;.
17 +
Humbert JR, Tress JH, Braico KT:  Fatal cyanide poisoning: Accidental ingestion of amygdalin . JAMA 238:482, 1977;.
18 +
Braico KT, Humbert JR, Terplan KL, et al:  Laetrile intoxication . N Engl J Med 300:238-240, 1979;.
19 +
Ellison NM, Bryan DP, Newell GR:  The NCI laetrile review . N Engl J Med 299:549-552, 1978;.
20 +
Broad WJ:  Upton OK's laetrile test on humans . Science 202:196, 1978;.
21 +
Clawson AB, Couch JF, Bunyea H:  The toxicity of sodium cyanide and the efficiency of the nitrite-thiosulphate combination as a remedy for poisoned animals . J Washington Acad Sci 25:357-361, 1935;.

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Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal

1 +
Benson WR, Fenselau C, Pallante S, et al:  Mandelonitrile β-glucuronide: Synthesis and characterization . Science 198:625-627, 1977;.
2 +
Wodinsky I, Swiniarski JK:  Antitumor activity of amygdalin MF (NSC 15780) as a single agent and with beta-glucosidase (NSC-128056) on a spectrum of transplantable rodent tumors . Cancer Chemother Rep 59(pt (1) )939-950, 1975;.
3 +
Laster WR Jr, Schabel FM Jr:  Experimental studies of the antitumor activity of amygdalin MF (NSC-15780) alone and in combination with beta-glucosidase (NSC-128056) . Cancer Chemother Rep 59(pt (1) ):951-956, 1975;.
4 +
Hill GJ, Shine TE, Hill HZ, et al:  Failure of amygdalin to arrest B16 melanoma and BW 5147 AKR leukemia . Cancer Res 36:2102-2107, 1976;.
5 +
Stock CC, Tarnowski GS, Schmid FA, et al:  Antitumor tests of amygdalin in transplantable animal tumor systems . J Surg Oncol 10:81-88, 1978;.
6 +
Stock CC, Martin DS, Sugiura K, et al:  Antitumor tests of amygdalin in spontaneous animal tumor systems . J Surg Oncol 10:89-123, 1978;.
7 +
Ovejera AA, Houchens DP, Barker AD, et al:  Inactivity of DL-amygdalin against human breast and colon tumor xenografts in athymic (nude) mice . Cancer Treat Rep 62:576-578, 1978;.
8 +
Relman AS:  Laetrilomania—again . N Engl J Med 298:215-216, 1978;.
9 +
 Federal court affirms pro-laetrile ruling . Science 201:326, 1978;.
10 +
Khandekar JD, Dardachti D, Garg BD, et al:  Hepatic fine structural changes and microsomal hypofunction in Walker tumor-bearing rats . Cancer 29:738-743, 1972;.
11 +
Graham DL, Laman D, Theodore J, et al:  Acute cyanide poisoning complicated by lactic acidosis and pulmonary edema . Arch Intern Med 137:1051-1055, 1977;.
12 +
Schmidt ES, Newton GW, Sanders SM, et al:  Laetrile toxicity studies in dogs . JAMA 239:943-947, 1978;.
13 +
Freireich EJ, Gehan EA, Rall DP, et al:  Quantitive comparison of toxicity of anticancer agents in mouse, rat, hamster, dog, monkey, and man . Cancer Chemother Rep 50:219-244, 1966;.
14 +
Lewis JP:  Laetrile . West J Med 127:55-62, 1977;.
15 +
Smith FP, Butler TP, Cohan S, et al:  Laetrile toxicity: A report of two patients . Cancer Treat Rep 62:169-171, 1978;.
16 +
Sadoff L, Fuchs K, Hollander J:  Rapid death associated with laetrile ingestion . JAMA 238:482, 1977;.
17 +
Humbert JR, Tress JH, Braico KT:  Fatal cyanide poisoning: Accidental ingestion of amygdalin . JAMA 238:482, 1977;.
18 +
Braico KT, Humbert JR, Terplan KL, et al:  Laetrile intoxication . N Engl J Med 300:238-240, 1979;.
19 +
Ellison NM, Bryan DP, Newell GR:  The NCI laetrile review . N Engl J Med 299:549-552, 1978;.
20 +
Broad WJ:  Upton OK's laetrile test on humans . Science 202:196, 1978;.
21 +
Clawson AB, Couch JF, Bunyea H:  The toxicity of sodium cyanide and the efficiency of the nitrite-thiosulphate combination as a remedy for poisoned animals . J Washington Acad Sci 25:357-361, 1935;.

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