Laetrile
Laetrile
Laetrile (pronounced lay-uh-tril) is a term used to describe a purified form of the chemical amygdalin, a naturally occurring substance found primarily in the kernels of apricots and other fruits, as well as in other plants such as lima beans, clover and sorghum.
Etymology
The term "Laetrile" is a portmanteau derived from two words: "laevorotatory" and "mandelonitrile". "Laevorotatory" refers to the substance's ability to rotate plane-polarized light to the left, while "mandelonitrile" is a reference to the chemical compound that laetrile is derived from.
Related Terms
- Amygdalin: A naturally occurring chemical compound, best known as the active ingredient in the substance laetrile. It is found in many plants, but most notably in the seeds (kernels) of apricot, bitter almonds, apple, peach, and plum.
- Vitamin B17: An unofficial and controversial term often used in conjunction with laetrile and amygdalin. Despite its name, it is not recognized as a vitamin by the medical community.
- Cyanide: A chemical compound that is released in the body when laetrile is broken down. Its potential toxicity is a major concern in the use of laetrile as a medical treatment.
- Alternative medicine: A field of healthcare that includes treatments considered outside of mainstream medicine. Laetrile has been used as an alternative treatment for cancer, despite lack of scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness.
Usage in Medicine
Laetrile has been promoted as an alternative cancer treatment, although scientific evidence does not support these claims. The use of laetrile as a treatment for cancer is controversial due to potential cyanide poisoning. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved laetrile as a treatment for cancer or any other medical condition.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Laetrile
- Wikipedia's article - Laetrile
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