Question

Show the products that result from hydrolysis of amygdalin in dilute acid. Can you suggest why amygdalin might be toxic to tumor (and possibly other) cells?

Short answer

is released from amygdalin. It is potent and cytotoxic and neurotoxic in nature.

Step-by-step solution

Step-1. Hydrolysis of amygdalin in dilute acid:

Amygdalin is a naturally occurring chemical compound and is a cyanogenic glycoside as toxic cyanide ion can get released from it on its hydrolysis. Amygdalin on hydrolysis with dilute acid gives two molecules of glucose and benzaldehyde cyanohydrin as the products and further benzaldehyde cyanohydrin on hydrolysis gives hydrogen cyanide as the product.

Amygdalin Hydrogen cyanide

Step-2. Cyanide poisoning from amygdalin:

Amygdalin can cause cyanide poisoning as after its ingestion it is hydrolysed to give a molecule of hydrogen cyanide and two molecules of glucose. Enzymatic degradation of amygdalin occurs in three stages. Hydrogen cyanide is toxic to neurological system as well as it is cytotoxic meaning, cell killing. Due to cyanide poisoning, liver may get damaged and blood pressure could get drop very low.