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Amygdalin in bitter and sweet seeds of apricots |
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| Authors: | Nazan Karsavuran Mohammad Charehsaz Hayati Celik Bayram Murat Asma Cengiz Yakıncı |
| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Pediatry, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey;2. Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey;3. Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey;4. Apricot Research and Application Center, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey |
| Abstract: | Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) poisoning due to amygdalin (AMY) in apricot seeds is one of the public health issues in Turkey. The aim of this study was to investigate the AMY content of 13 different apricot seeds including bitter and sweet ones, and which are either sulfurized or roasted. The AMY content was determined by a high-performance liquid chromatography. Release of HCN was predicted and total amount of seeds which can cause poisoning was calculated. The mean AMY content of bitter seeds was 26 ± 14 mg g?1 and that of sweet seeds was 0.16 ± 0.09 mg g?1. The consumption of small amounts of bitter seeds may cause cyanide poisoning. |
| Keywords: | cyanide HPLC poisoning amygdalin apricot |