Laetrile

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ONC-004698",
  "term": "Laetrile",
  "field": "Oncology and biomedicine",
  "definitions": [
    "A purified form of amygdalin made in the laboratory. Amygdalin is a substance found in the pits of some fruits, such as apricots, and in raw nuts and plants. Laetrile has been used in some countries as a treatment for cancer, but it has not been shown to work in human clinical trials. It is not approved for use in the United States.",
    "Originally, the name laetrile was the contraction of laevo-mandelonitrile glucoside, a cyanogenic glycoside found naturally in some plants. Over the years the meaning of laetrile has changed. There are now preparations called Laetrile where amygdalin is the major constituent. Laetrile and amygdalin are often used interchangeably, but are different agents. Cyanide and benzaldehyde are metabolites of both laetrile and amygdalin. Both metabolites may possess antineoplastic properties. Laetrile has been used as an anticancer treatment in humans worldwide, but scientific evidence does not support its effectiveness. It is not approved for use in the United States."
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    "Laetrille"
  ],
  "references": [
    "NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms",
    "National Cancer Institute Thesaurus"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/oncology/laetrile/"
}