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From: aoki@oracle.UUCP (Don Aoki)
Newsgroups: net.rumor
Subject: Re: Killer Apples
Message-ID: <410@oracle.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 9-Feb-86 07:05:25 EST
Article-I.D.: oracle.410
Posted: Sun Feb  9 07:05:25 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 11-Feb-86 06:30:25 EST
References: <3012@pesnta.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: ORACLE Corporation, 2710 Sand Hill Rd., Menlo Park, CA 94025
Lines: 30
Summary: Apple Seeds DO contain cyanide compounds

In article <3012@pesnta.UUCP>, earlw@pesnta.UUCP (Earl Wallace) writes:
> I heard that the seeds of apples contains arsenic or strychnine (or something
> like that).  If you chew about 10+ seeds, you're a gonner.  Any truth to this
> I wonder?
> 
This rumor is partially true, although it would take more than 10 seeds
to kill you.  Apple seeds, as well as the seeds of cherries, plums, almonds,
peaches, apricots, and crabapples, contain "cyanogenetic glycosides."
When ingested, these compounds form hydrogen cyanide gas as the result
of an enzymatic reaction.  In large quantities this may be fatal.

I have read that Turkey has reported nine cases of lethal poisonings
from apricot seeds since 1957.        

Of the seeds listed above, almonds contain the greatest amount of
amygdalin, the most important cyanogenetic glycoside.  It is said that
it would take 50-70 of them to kill an adult; therefore the number
of apple seeds constituting a fatal dosage would be higher.  Probably
about a cupful.

By the way, if the seeds are roasted before ingestion, the enzymes that
produce the lethal byproduct are destroyed, rendering the seeds safe.

I have also heard that most birds that consume these fruits are "smart"
enough to leave the seeds alone.

-- 
Don Aoki ("The Oak")
ORACLE Corporation				(415)598-8077
Belmont, California				hplabs!oracle!aoki