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Apples are a popular and healthy fruit. Apples have antioxidant properties that help protect against cancer-inducing oxidative damage, which can lead to various health problems. When you bite deep into an apple, you are confronted with something not so sweet in its core: tiny black seeds. These seeds contain amygdalin, a substance that releases cyanide when it comes into contact with human digestive enzymes. However, acute toxicity is rare if you accidentally eat some of the seeds. Check out the article to know more about apple seeds, cyanide poisoning and more.
We are all aware that eating apples is beneficial. It contains plenty of healthful compounds, like antioxidants, vitamins, and dietary fibre. But did you know that the apple can also be harmful? The apple’s seeds contain a plant compound called amygdalin. Amygdalin can have a toxic effect. It is a part of the seeds’ chemical defences. It is considered to be harmless when a seed is intact, but when a seed is chewed or damaged, the amygdalin degrades into hydrogen cyanide. It is very poisonous and even lethal in high doses.
The compound amygdalin exists in high amounts in the seeds of fruits in the Rosaceae family, which includes apples, peaches, cherries, almonds, and apricots. Throughout history, people have used cyanide as a poison. It works by interfering with the oxygen supply of cells, and high doses can result in death within minutes.
Cyanide is a chemical known as one of the deadliest poisons and has been used in chemical warfare and mass suicide. Compounds that contain cyanide are called cyanoglycosides and are found in nature, often in fruit seeds. Apple seeds and other fruit seeds have a strong outer layer resistant to digestive juices. But when you chew the seeds, amygdalin can be released in the body and can produce cyanide. However, small amounts can be detoxified by enzymes in the body. While large amounts can be dangerous.
Eating or drinking cyanogenic plant compounds can lead to cyanide poisoning in humans. These plant compounds exist in apricot seeds, apple seeds, almonds, and cassavas.
Mild symptoms of cyanide poisoning may include:
Whereas acute poisoning can cause decreased consciousness, high blood pressure, paralysis, coma and fatal in some cases. The exact amount needed to make a person sick depends on their body weight. However, young children are at greater risk. The amount of amygdalin in an apple varies, depending on the type of apples and their growing environment.
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), 1 to 2 mg/kg is a fatal oral dose of cyanide for a 154 lbs. man. Most apple cores contain around five apple seeds. However, it differs based on the health of the plant. A person needs to finely chew and eat about 200 apple seeds, or about 40 apple cores, to receive a fatal dose.
Apple seed oil is a byproduct of juice processing, which is made from raw apple pomace. Generally, the amount of amygdalin in apple seed oil is very small. People use it for its fragrance, calm skin inflammation and to condition hair. Some studies suggest that it is also a good source of antioxidants and shows some potential as an anticancer agent.
Apple has five seed packets, with varying numbers in each pocket. Few people believe that apple seeds are poisonous, while others consider them to be healthful. The apple seeds contain amygdalin, a substance which releases cyanide into the bloodstream when chewed and digested. However, in small amounts, apple seeds do not contain enough cyanide to be harmful. To avoid any potential problems, it is best to spit out the seeds.
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