PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS ALMOND/15

Allium ursinum

See Bear's Garlic

Almond

Prunus species

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the ripe fruit.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers are very short-petioled in

pairs and appear before the leaves. The petals are 19 to 20

mm long, pale pink to whitish with dark veins. The fruit is

oblong-ovoid, compressed. 3.5 to 4.6 cm long by 2.5 to 3 cm

wide, gray-green, velvet-downy and pubescent. The nut shell

is yellow, hard, compressed, broad- and sharp-edged, punc-

tate externally with irregular grooves, smooth and glossy

inside and thick- or thin-skinned. The seed is cinnamon

brown, flattened, and 2 cm long by 1.2 to 1.5 cm wide.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is of medium height,
seldom reaching 12 m. It is a tree or shrub with mildly red-
^ tinged branches, thorny in its wild form but not in the
cultivated form. The leaves have a 1.2 to 1.5 cm long,
glandular petiole and glabrous, oblong-lanceolate-acuminate
or serrate, tough, glossy, dark green blades.
Habitat: The tree is indigenous to Western Asia and is
extensively cultivated in many regions.
Production: Bitter almonds are the fruits of Prunus dulcis
var. amara (also of Prunus armeniaca).
Sweet almonds are the fruits of Prunus amygdalus var.
dulcis.
Other Names: Greek Nuts, Jordan Almond, Bitter Almond,
and Sweet Almond
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS: BITTER ALMONDS
Cyanogenic glycosides, amygdalin, 0.2 to 8.5% (correspond-
ing to 12 to 500 mg prussic acid per 100 gm)
Fatty oil (non-dehydrating, 38 to 60%): chief fatty acids
m oleic acid (77%) and linoleic acid (17 to 20%)

Mucilages (3 to 3%): arabinogalactans

Proteic substances (25 to 35%)

EFFECTS: BITTER ALMONDS

There is no reliable information available.

COMPOUNDS: SWEET ALMONDS

Fatty oil (non-dehydrating, 43 to 57%): chief fatty acids

oleic acid (77%) and linoleic acid (17 to 20%)

Mucilages (3 to 4%): arabinogalactans

Proteic substances (20 to 25%)

EFFECTS: SWEET ALMONDS

Sweet Almonds have a demulcent effect.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

BITTER ALMONDS

Unproven Uses: Bitter Almonds were used in the past as a

remedy for coughs, vomiting and nausea in the form of bitter

almond water.

SWEET ALMONDS

Unproven Uses: Sweet Almonds are used topically in skin

care and liniments.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

BITTER ALMONDS

To be used only under the supervision of an expert qualified

in the appropriate use of this substance.

SWEET ALMONDS

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

with the proper administration of designated therapeutic

topical dosages.

OVERDOSAGE

BITTER ALMONDS

10 bitter almonds are said to be fatal for a child, 60 for an

adult (a fatal dosage would presumably be already reached at

a lower level, given disadvantageous conditions - higher

cyanide level in the almonds, intensive chewing). Recom-

mended antidotes include injection of solutions of dicobalt-

EDTA or thiosulfates or else application of methemoglobin-

forming substances, such as amyl nitrite. At the same time,

vomiting should be induced or the stomach emptied.

Circulation support measures and/or artificial respiration

may be required.

DOSAGE

BITTER ALMONDS

Mode of Administration: The drug is obsolete and no longer

used.

SWEET ALMONDS

Mode of Administration: Sweet Almonds fatty oil is used as

an ointment base and in the production of natural cosmetics.

LITERATURE

BITTER ALMONDS

Fincke H, Z Untersuch Lebensm 52:423. 1926.

Le Quesne PW et al., JNP 48:496. 1985.

Opdyke DLF, (1976) Food Cosmet Toxicol: 14.

Salvo F et al., Riv Ital Sostanze Grasse 57:24. 1980.

Saura-Calixto F et al., Fette, Seifen, Anstrichm 87:4. 1985.