The Pharmacological and Toxicological Effects of Amygdalin: A Review Study

Background: Amygdalin has many pharmacological activities, such as analgesic and antiasthmatic effects. Although several studies supported the cytotoxic effects of amygdalin on different cancer cell lines, no general agreement has been reached on the anticancer aspect of amygdalin. Objectives: This review aims to focus on the pharmacological and toxicological effects of amygdalin and provide a reference and perspective for further investigation. Methods: Electronic databases, including the Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect, were searched to identify eligible studies on the pharmacological and toxicological effects of amygdalin and provide a reference and perspective for further investigation. Totally, 90 papers about in vitro or in vivo studies on amygdalin have been reviewed. Results: Pharmacological activities of amygdalin have been well documented over the years; however, in some cases, dose-dependent toxicity has been reported in the human body. Since the acute toxicity of oral administration of amygdalin is far greater than the intravenous route, several in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to assess the amygdalin’s pharmacological value for the induction of apoptosis and anticancer effects. Conclusion: Amygdalin generally has dose-dependent effects. It has positive or desirable effects at lower doses and undesirable impact at a higher intake level. However, there are substantial inter-individual variations.