Almonds come from the Prunus dulcis tree. Sweet almonds are edible while bitter almonds contain toxic chemicals. Almonds originate from Iran and Asia Minor but are now widely cultivated. They contain beneficial nutrients like unsaturated fats, vitamins, minerals, and polyphenols. Bitter almonds contain amygdalin which breaks down into hydrogen cyanide, making them poisonous. Almonds have various traditional and commercial uses including cosmetics, food flavoring, and laxatives.

1. 1
University of
Duhok
School of Pharmacy

2. 2

3. Kingdom –
Plantae
Order – Rosales
Family –
Rosaceae
Genus – Prunus
Species – P. Dulcis
PrunusPrunus

4. Almonds are a familiar type of nut.Almonds are a familiar type of nut.
They can beThey can be sweetsweet oror bitterbitter, depending on the, depending on the
type of tree.type of tree.
Sweet almondSweet almond (Prunus amygdalus var. dulcis)(Prunus amygdalus var. dulcis)
and does not contain poisonous chemicals.and does not contain poisonous chemicals.
Bitter almond fromBitter almond from (Prunus amygdalus var.(Prunus amygdalus var.
amara)amara) andand contain toxic chemicals.contain toxic chemicals.
4

5. trees about 5 m in height.
young fruit have a soft
wall
fruit ripens to form a
pitted wall or shell.
 The seeds length from
1.5 cm to 5 cm,
Odor :( benzaldehyde odor
) bland odor
Origin: Iran & Asia minor
and now cultivated in the
5
Rose color
flowers

6. Seeds
skin
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7. Fats: unsaturated oleic, linoleic fatty acids,
and palmitic acid
Glycoside: amygdalin
Vitamins: E, (α-tocopherol), Vit B complex
(RiboflavinB2,Niacin)
Dietary fibers
Minerals:Magnesium, Phosphorus,
Calcium, Potassium
polyphenolic; flavonols (quercetin)

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9. Amygdalin : poisonous cyanogenetic
glycoside found in the seeds of bitter
almonds which upon enzymatic
hydrolysis with emulsin give rise to
hydrocyanic acid(HCN), benzaldehyde,
suger.
Amygdalin enzyme emulsin + H2O
HCN +
+ benzaldehyde (V.O)
+glucose

10. Riboflavin :is essential for
oxidation reduction reactions in the
cell and
in cellular respiration.
Vitamin E :is the major antioxidant
in body tissues and is defense against
lipid peroxidation,
protecting cell membranes
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11. Bitter almond used as sedative
due to HCN content.
Demulcent in skin-lotion.
Help in weight loss as it contain healthy
fats.
Make teeth , bone stronger.
Antioxidants fight free radical damage
Nourishes nervous system.
Relief from constipation.
Treatment of heart burn

12. Both varieties contain
40-55 % fixed oil
20% protein
mucilage & emulsin.
Bitter almonds
contain 2.5-4%
cyanogenic glycoside,
amygdalin.
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13. Almond oils is produced
by grinding the seeds &
expressing them in a
canvas bag between
slightly heated iron
plates. the oil is then
clarified by subsidence
and filtration.
Oil is pale yellow liquid
with a slight odour &
bland, nutty taste.13

14. Essential oil is obtained
from the cake left after
expressing bitter
almonds. This is
macerated with water for
some time to allow for the
hydrolysis of amygdalin.
The benzaldehyde and
hydrocyanic acid are
separated by steam
distillation.14

15. ablution articles.
mild laxative action.
Volatile almond oil is used
as a flavouring agent.
preparing emulsion and
as vehicle for oily
injections
Cosmetics – hair and skin
creams and lotions
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17. Sedative medications:
Phenobarbital
Diazepam
Vitamin C
Grains & Eggs
17

18. Trease and Evans' Pharmacognosy
16th
Edition By William Charles Evans
Textbook of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry
By Biren Shah, Avinash Seth
therapeutic Applications of Almonds
(Prunus amygdalus L):by
Dr. Hari Jagannadha Rao , Dr. Lakshmi
www.webmed.com