UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Toxicology

Title: Which fruits contain cyanide compounds?

Keywords: cyanide (PubMed Search)

Posted: 5/15/2008 by Fermin Barrueto, MD (Updated: 4/25/2024)
Click here to contact Fermin Barrueto, MD

 Toxicology Trivia for $1000 - These are in fruits of the "rose" family and in some roots that contain cyanogenic glycosides and other cyanide containing compounds. It would actually take a fair amount of work to ingest enough to reach toxicity:

  • Bitter almonds
  • Apricot kernels
  • Peach pits
  • Plum sees
  • Apple and pear seeds
  • Cassava (actually have to wash the root prior to eating - skin contains the CN)
  • Lima Beans