Hydrocyanic acid or which acid is the most poisonous? Hydrocyanic acid in the bones.

Thanks to my hobby, I faced the question, is it possible to make plum and apricot mash together with the seeds? After reading the forums and watching videos on the first channel, I was stunned that the bones contain poison - hydrocyanic acid... Even the consumption of 60 grams of seeds is a lethal dose for an adult.

I figured out how much effort it would take to peel half a ton of apricots, and began to investigate the issue deeper. As the saying goes: laziness is the engine of progress. I will not say anything, this is exclusively IMHO.

Pits of apricot, plums, apples, cherries, etc. of the plum family, as well as grains of bitter almonds, are rich in vitamin B17, aka nitrilocide, aka amygdalin. In addition to B17, the bones contain and hydrocyanic acid... Asphyxiation poison. 60 ml of this poison is enough to be sent to heaven. It is also known that hydrocyanic acid was used in the gas chambers in the Nazi camps.

Now comes the fun part. The bones are very rich in vitamin B17. So, in the stomach, B17 is broken down to hydrocyanic acid. Our body contains enzymes that calmly neutralize hydrocyanic acid in small dosages. Because cancer cells do not contain the necessary enzyme, they die under the influence of hydrocyanic acid.

Eating 5 to 30 apricot pits throughout the day (but not all at once) is good cancer prevention, according to proponents of B17.


Let's turn to the animals. It is not in vain that a sick dog is looking for grass containing nitrilocides (vitamin B17), and the bear first eats the intestines of the victim, because it is rich in nitrilocides, which are found in huge quantities in edible plants and the fruits listed above are especially rich in them.

For myself, I learned that for an apricot or plum brandy, you don't have to bother with the seeds, since two distillations will cut off the finished product from hydrocyanic acid. But wine, it is better to make pitted.

Hydrocyanic acid is an incredibly volatile mixture, evaporates at 26.5C, therefore, during distillation, it will come out along with the head fractions.

The nitrilocide molecule (vitamin B17) splits into two molecules, one of which is a hydrocyanic acid molecule. This decomposition occurs in an acidic medium, for example in a mash or stomach, under the action of the enzyme emulsin contained in the bone.
However, when heated, the emulsin is destroyed and hydrolysis does not occur. But at what temperature I could not find it.

I put the liqueur on a spank, especially with bones for the experiment. It will be insisted for a month. I hope nothing happens to me. Amen.


Many people love cherries, and they eat them not only fresh, but also prepare various dishes. In this case, the cherry pits usually end up in the trash can. Adherents of traditional medicine consider this a real crime, since cherry pits have certain benefits for the body. It should be borne in mind that in some cases they can harm health. That is why it is worthwhile to carefully understand this issue.

The benefits and harms of cherry pits

You don't have to take them by mouth to benefit from the products. This rule also applies to cherry seeds. In ancient times, pillows were filled with bones, since they perfectly retain both heat and cold. In the first case, put the pillow in the microwave for a couple of minutes. This natural heating pad is recommended for colds and arthritis. If you need to cool the heating pad, then put it in the freezer for half an hour, which will allow you to get a cooling compress.

Speaking about what cherry pits are useful for, mention should be made of their positive effect on immunity, for what a person should walk on the bones with bare feet for 10 minutes. It is scientifically proven that foot massage helps to improve immunity. Bones are used for compresses to help with gout. To do this, they should be crushed, wrapped in gauze and applied to a sore spot.

The beneficial properties of the seeds cannot be obtained by ingesting them, since the composition contains a lot of hydrocyanic acid, which can harm the body. After 5 hours, the person may feel poisoning. If it occurs in mild forms, then dizziness, headache and nausea are felt. In more serious poisoning, a person may faint, and may also turn blue skin and have seizures.

Source http://kak-bog.ru/vishnevye-kostochki-polza-i-vred

Anton Lytkin 06.11.2017

The benefits of cherries are great, since the berry has a large number of medicinal properties in its arsenal. Anyone who has eaten cherries at least once probably knows how they quench their thirst and improve appetite.

These sour berries contain a lot of coumarins - substances that lower the blood clotting threshold and prevent the formation of cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels. Cherry also benefits from the fact that it strengthens the entire circulatory system of the body. If you have problems with blood vessels or capillaries, you need to eat the berry.

Cherries are used to improve the motility of the digestive glands, as they stimulate the secretory function of the stomach, pancreas and gall bladder. The beneficial properties of cherries are the ability to destroy harmful bacteria and prevent them from multiplying in case of diseases. The berry is known to have a laxative and expectorant effect. Cherries are used to make syrups for coughs and colds.

Useful properties of cherries

In folk medicine, the benefits of cherries play an important role. The berry is used as an antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial medicine. Its juice is combined with a large amount of vitamin C, and the berry enhances its effect by stimulating the immune system.

Cherry juice is useful. The high content of vitamins B1, B6 and C together with iron, copper and magnesium have an effect in the treatment of anemia and diseases associated with the hematopoietic system.

The benefits of cherries are shown in the treatment of sore throats, stomach and intestines. Cherries contain anticyanides, which have an antiseptic effect.

It is known that the usefulness of cherries is extracted not only from its fruits, but also from other parts of the tree - leaves, roots, trunk. For example, resin is used to make medicines for the treatment of the stomach, a decoction of leaves and twigs helps with chronic colitis and intestinal atony.

All the useful qualities of cherries simply cannot be enumerated, it is easier to just take and try it!

Cherry harm

Cherries have only one drawback - they are seeds, which cannot be said about the benefits of apricot kernels. Cherry kernels are poisonous, although they are used under medical supervision to treat kidney disease. You can't just eat them!

In addition to the named beneficial properties of cherries, it also contains vitamin PP, pectin, cobalt, ellagic acid - to prevent cancer, malic and citric acid. People with high acidity in the stomach are not recommended to eat cherries because of the content of the last two acids - they irritate the mucous membrane of the digestive system, which is not done by cherries, which are so similar to it. Consuming cherries regularly reduces the risk of heart attacks in humans.

The calorie content of cherries per 100 grams is 52 kcal.

Source http://polzavred.ru/polza-vishni.html

Despite all the benefits of cherries, they can cause irreparable harm to the body. And this primarily applies to cherry pits. Thus, cherry pits, the harm and benefits of which have been proven by doctors, are safe for the body if they are in jam or compote. The bones contain the glycoside amygdalin, which breaks down into glucose and, yes, hydrocyanic acid.

Among the fruit and berry crops grown in Russian gardens, cherry occupies a special place - the beneficial properties of this fruit tree were highly valued even in antiquity. Moreover, not only bright red berries were used as a healing agent, but also the bark of a tree.

The benefits of cherries are so great that only strawberries can be compared with it. And this is not surprising given such a rich composition of vitamins and minerals! Cherry berries contain tannins, natural sugars (fructose and glucose), starch, organic acids and pectins. It is very useful to add cherries to the diet of pregnant women, because berries contain folic acid, which plays an important role in the development of the embryo.

Cherry juice is an effective natural antiseptic that inhibits dysentery pathogens, E. coli, pyogenic infections, etc. In addition, due to its low calorie content and beneficial effect on metabolic processes in the body, cherry juice is considered an excellent dietary aid. They will be especially useful fresh, but you can prepare cherry leaves for future use by drying them under a canopy.

The benefits and harms of cherries

Due to the content of hydrocyanic acid, fresh cherry pits are strongly discouraged from eating, as they can cause poisoning. Therefore, so that cherries do not harm you, the beneficial properties and contraindications to its use should be discussed with your doctor. What harm can it cause to the body? We will reveal the answers to these and other questions later. And now about everything in order.

Hydrocyanic acid and its compounds (cyanides) is a natural insecticide, that is, a substance that protects plants from pests. The flora is rich in them. They are found in fruits and even leaves of many plant species. It has high volatility and low density, and is a highly toxic substance.

Under the influence of moisture, hydrocyanic acid is formed in the pits of cherries, plums, apricots, peaches, mountain ash, cherries, apples, black elderberry, bitter almond kernels. It belongs to the grape family, and they are not characterized by the release of hydrocyanic acid in the seeds. Therefore, grapes in the form of whole berries are used to make wine, which cannot be done with the listed "dangerous" fruits.

Why are cherry pits useful?

Consequently, the least amount of hydrocyanic acid is found in the bones of an apple tree, so the risk of getting poisoned from these fruits is 4–5 times less than from bitter almonds. An interesting fact is known: the susceptibility to hydrocyanic acid is greater in humans and warm-blooded animals. When ingested from the same cherry pits of hydrocyanic acid in a higher concentration than can neutralize the protective mechanisms of neutralization, signs of poisoning appear.

Inhibition of tissue respiration occurs, which is caused in the body by hydrocyanic acid, which is formed in apricot pits. In other words, the body thinks that the energy deficit is caused by a lack of oxygen and, by stimulating the release of its carriers, tries to solve the problem and restore homeostasis.

In those who died from hydrocyanic acid formed in the seeds of fruits, for example, plums, there are fewer changes in the heart, liver, kidneys, in contrast to the central nervous system. Similar changes are taking place in other organs. The accumulation of the latter in the blood leads to a decrease in the arteriovenous difference, and then to its disappearance.

Hydrocyanic acid belongs to weak acids and, at the same time, is a reactogenic substance. There are many compounds in the body with which it can react. The poison actively affects the content of hydrogen ions and leads to a shift in the pH of the medium to the acidic side, and as a result, non-respiratory (metabolic) acidosis develops.

Cherry pits in compote and tincture

Jam, compotes, wine should be made from seedless fruits. The exception is wine: except for grapes, all other berries must be taken without seeds. Compliance with simple rules will help keep yourself and your family healthy. And here - on you - a simple vitamin, and the entire industry collapses. A cancer-killing substance has been found in the pits of most fruits, particularly apricots.

In the article I'm talking about here, a lot of things have been written, both arguments and facts are given. Those who want to know more details will find it all on the Internet.

Likewise - grapes and pears. I will buy dried fruits, compotes and preserves only with seeds. And then I read that it turns out I was poisoning myself a lot, and in general, according to all the rules of the genre, I had to move horses for a long time or lie in the hospital. Therefore, in a healthy body, amygdalin decomposes only with the formation of glucose, without hydrocyanic acid. In addition, rhodanase is able to bind hydrocyanic acid, if it nevertheless enters the body from the outside in small quantities.

Helminths on the bone. Many people like to split apricot kernels, and there are kernels that taste good. However, not everyone knows what danger lies in them, because they contain hydrocyanic acid. The benefits and harms of cherries cannot be considered as a whole, because cherries have only one drawback - these are its seeds, which cannot be said about the benefits of apricot kernels.

Source http://prikaziwon.ru/polza-i-vred-vishni/

Among the fruit and berry crops grown in Russian gardens, cherry occupies a special place - the beneficial properties of this fruit tree were highly valued even in antiquity. Moreover, not only bright red berries were used as a healing agent, but also the bark of a tree. Traditional healers advised leaning against the cherry with your back or sore spots in order to remove the ailment from the body, and also used the ash of the cherry tree to cure various ailments.

Vitamins and nutrients that make up cherries

In Russia, cherry orchards appeared during the reign of Yuri Dolgorukiy, and now almost every plot has a place for a small cherry tree, the fruits of which are used fresh, dried, frozen, as well as in the form of jam, jam, compote and various desserts.

The benefits of cherries are so great that only strawberries can be compared with it.

From our article you will learn:

  • what vitamins and nutrients are hidden in the pulp of cherry fruits,
  • how you can use different parts of the plant for health purposes,
  • for what medicinal properties cherries have long been valued,
  • the benefits and harms of this culture will also be discussed in detail.

The benefits of cherries are so great that only strawberries can be compared with it. And this is not surprising given such a rich composition of vitamins and minerals! The vitamins in cherries contain the following: C, PP, A, E, H, B1, B2, B6, as well as folic acid or vitamin B9. From micro- and macroelements: fluorine, iron, iodine, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, zinc, sodium, chromium, manganese, sulfur, potassium, chlorine, nickel, boron, rubidium, vanadium, cobalt. Cherries are especially rich in calcium, and in terms of molybdenum content they are in first place among berries. Although some of these elements are needed by our body in a minimal amount, however, with a lack of them, we are more susceptible to disease and age faster.

Cherry berries contain tannins, natural sugars (fructose and glucose), starch, organic acids and pectins. Separately, it is worth noting substances such as coumarin, due to which blood clotting decreases and the risk of blood clots decreases, ellagic acid, which blocks the development of cancer cells, as well as anthocyanins, which prevent early cell aging and increase capillary tone.

Cherry berries contain tannins, natural sugars (fructose and glucose), starch, organic acids and pectins

Why cherries are useful - from pitted berries to leaves

Cherries

The pulp of cherry berries can literally be called a tasty and healthy natural medicine with a wide spectrum of action:

  • first of all, they are recommended to be actively consumed in order to increase hemoglobin in the blood, reduce high pressure and strengthen capillaries in order to avoid hemorrhages;
  • cherries can serve as an excellent prophylactic agent against heart attacks, thrombosis, strokes, angina attacks and complications of arterial atherosclerosis;
  • the pulp of the fruit is used in the treatment of gout and arthritis, since it reduces the level of uric acid in the body and eliminates inflammation of the joints;
  • due to the rather high copper content, it is useful to include cherries in the diet in the treatment of epilepsy and some mental illnesses - cherries have a beneficial effect on the central nervous system and on the activity of the brain;
  • anti-inflammatory and bactericidal properties of cherries can successfully fight streptococci and staphylococci, destroy the causative agents of dysentery;

The pulp of the fruit is used in the treatment of gout and arthritis, as it reduces the level of uric acid in the body and eliminates inflammation of the joints

  • the pulp of cherry fruits also helps with constipation, since pectin substances help to improve intestinal motility and effectively remove toxins from the body;
  • for colds, cherries serve as an excellent antipyretic agent, and for bronchitis and dry cough, berries act as a mild but effective expectorant.

Cherry juice

The healing properties of cherries are no less vividly manifested in fresh cherry juice, which is considered one of the most useful among freshly squeezed juices. Like cherry pulp, the juice is effective against high temperatures, coughs, in the treatment of arthritis, and as a prophylactic against atherosclerosis.

Cherry juice is an effective natural antiseptic that inhibits dysentery pathogens, E. coli, pyogenic infections, etc. In addition, due to its low calorie content and beneficial effect on metabolic processes in the body, cherry juice is considered an excellent dietary aid. It can be drunk concentrated or diluted and harvested on time.

Cherry juice is an effective natural antiseptic that inhibits dysentery pathogens, E. coli, pyogenic infections, etc.

Cherry leaves

If cherry grows in your area, pay attention to collecting leaves that have fallen after the tree blooms. They will be especially useful fresh, but you can prepare cherry leaves for future use by drying them under a canopy. Vitamin tea is brewed from cherry leaves, which has a hemostatic and anti-inflammatory effect.

With hypertension and bleeding, you can steam dry or fresh leaves in boiling water, insist for half an hour and use the strained infusion a little during the day. Such an infusion will be especially useful for heavy menstruation and for nosebleeds. A decoction of cherry leaves, cooked in milk, is good for liver diseases, including hepatitis and gallstone disease.

Cherry pits

In addition to poisonous seeds, cherries can harm the body if consumed in large quantities for obesity, intestinal dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, indigestion, stomach ulcers and chronic lung diseases. Therefore, so that cherries do not harm you, the beneficial properties and contraindications to its use should be discussed with your doctor.

Source http://orchardo.ru/265-poleznye-svoystva-vishni.html

We all love to eat berries and fruits, but it is not always possible to eat them without seeds, especially often it turns out to eat berries, such as cherries with a bone in children, but is it possible, is it not harmful?

Cherry has a number of useful properties, has a very beneficial effect on the human body, but despite this, the cherry also hides the danger, the cherry can become your assistant, and maybe your enemy. Read about all these questions below.

The benefits of cherries. What are the benefits of cherries?

It is recommended to eat cherries to increase hemoglobin in the blood, improve immunity and increase the level of vitamins A, E, C and B. Also, cherries contain substances that slow down cell aging and reduce the risk of cancer cell formation, improve capillary tone, thereby equalizing internal pressure Also, cherries are rich in calcium. Thus, cherries serve as a good prophylactic agent against cardiovascular diseases. Cherries are rich in elements necessary for the normal functioning of the human body, such as: phosphorus, copper, iodine, sodium, zinc, manganese, calcium, etc. If you are worried about arthritis, then cherries are an excellent natural remedy against it. Because of its positive effect on the intestines, cherries are a good remedy for constipation.

Fresh cherry juice is one of the most useful, it is rich in vitamins, has an antiseptic and soothing effect, and also low in calories, which is a pleasant bonus for girls on a diet. The calorie content of freshly squeezed cherry juice is only 52 kcal.

But be careful about eating too many cherries, especially in case of intestinal diseases or diabetes, can harm the body, so you should not eat too much of them.

Decoctions from cherry leaves are also useful, they have anti-inflammatory effects. It is prepared very easily, either fresh or already dried cherry leaves are taken and poured with boiling water for 40 minutes, then filtered and consumed in the form of tea.

Is it okay to eat berries and fruits with seeds?

Inside the seeds of some types of berries and fruits, there is a compound harmful to humans called hydrocyanic acid.
Why is she there? It serves as a natural protection for these fruits from various pests.

How to recognize hydrocyanic acid? It is a colorless liquid with a taste somewhat similar to almonds, only more bitter. It is formed inside the bones when their integrity is violated under the influence of moisture.

What fruit pits contain this compound? In the pits of cherries, peaches, plums, apricots, apples, cherries, as well as in bitter almonds.

How much hydrocyanic acid is in the seeds of various plants? As a percentage of the weight of seeds in almonds, 3%, in apricots, 1.5%, in peaches, 2.5%, in cherries, 0.9%, and in apples, 0.5% of a toxic substance. Studies show that the extremely dangerous dose (or even lethal) of the use of this substance is approximately 90-110 apricot kernels.

Hydrocyanic acid: effect on the body

man?

Hydrocyanic acid acts on tissues, or rather on their metabolic processes and respiration, which leads to their death, affects primarily the brain. At the same time, there are no signs of oxygen starvation of the integuments, but the central nervous system and the brain in particular cannot perform metabolic reactions and absorb oxygen, because of this, they have a process of oxygen starvation. Later, other human organs also suffer from oxygen starvation.

With a mild form of poisoning, a person feels dizziness, headache, loss of consciousness, as well as natural reactions of the body for poisoning, such as vomiting.

As we already know, there are seeds inside the cherry pits, which contain a compound of hydrocyanic acid, which is harmful to humans. But if there is a cherry with seeds and at the same time the stone is not broken, then hydrocyanic acid will not enter the human body, the cherry stone will not be able to be digested in the stomach, and hydrocyanic acid will not be released, the cherry stone will simply come out almost intact from the body in a natural way.

Dangerous tinctures and wine on cherry pits, since the process takes a long time and over time, hydrocyanic acid can get into the drink. When preparing compote or cherry jam with a large amount of sugar, hydrocyanic acid quickly decomposes into harmless components and there should be no harm, but such a compote is not recommended for children.

Also, not only the chemical component can be dangerous, even if whole cherry pits enter the body, and hydrocyanic acid is not released, then the bones themselves can cause intestinal obstruction. This can lead to serious consequences and the need for urgent surgical intervention. There may be a risk of appendicitis due to cherry pits entering the appendix. Appendicitis is one of the most common diseases - an inflammation of the intestinal process, which, when ingested, can be caused by a foreign object, such as a cherry stone.

Almost every day we eat foods made from plants that contain deadly poisons. Many of us believe that nothing can be more useful than fruits and vegetables, but sometimes we are unaware of the hidden threat that lurks in them. Of course, more often than not we should not worry, but there have been cases when people accidentally killed themselves by eating a poisonous part of a plant or fruit. Here are 10 fruits and vegetables to be careful with.

(10 photos total)

1. Almonds.

Almonds are considered a dry fruit, not a nut as many people think. It has a unique flavor and is one of the most popular ingredients in desserts and other dishes.

The most fragrant is bitter almonds, which contain poisonous cyanide. This is why bitter almonds are commonly processed to remove poison. In addition, heating also destroys the poison.

In some countries, such as New Zealand, the sale of bitter almonds is prohibited by law.

Cashews are seeds, not nuts, that grow from the fruit or "apple" of the cashew.

The cashews sold in the store are not raw and are pre-steamed. This is because raw cashews contain urushiol, which can still be found in poison ivy, which can cause allergy symptoms.

Consuming large amounts of urushiol can be fatal. Although cashew poisoning is quite rare, workers who peel the nut often experience unwanted side effects such as skin irritation.

3. Cherries. Cherry pits

Cherries, as well as apricots, peaches and plums contain cyanide in their seeds. If you chew, chew, or otherwise damage the bone, then you are exposing yourself to hydrogen cyanide.

Of course, if you swallow a few seeds, nothing bad will happen, since our body can handle a certain amount of cyanide, but in large quantities it can be dangerous.

Symptoms of mild poisoning include headache, dizziness, disorientation, anxiety, and vomiting. In high doses, it can lead to breathing difficulties, high blood pressure and heart rate, and kidney failure, which can be fatal.

4. Asparagus.

Asparagus is a fruit-bearing vegetable that, by the way, is poisonous. The fact is that a vegetable is, as a rule, an edible part of a plant, which can be a leaf, a stem, or a root.

Asparagus has long been used as a vegetable and medicine for its pleasant taste and diuretic properties. The fruit is small red berries with a diameter of 6-10 mm, which are poisonous to humans.

5. Tomatoes. Green tomatoes

Fun fact: In the United States, tomatoes are considered a vegetable, while in the rest of the world they are considered a fruit, or rather a berry. The reason for this was a tax on vegetables, but not fruits.

Tomato leaves and stems contain a substance called "glycoalkaloid", which can cause extreme nervousness, headache and stomach upset. There is also some amount of this substance in green tomatoes, but usually not much.

6. Nutmeg.

Nutmeg contains a psychoactive substance called myristicin. Too much of this substance can cause vomiting, sweating, dizziness, hallucinations, and headaches.

However, there is no need to worry. The amount used in cooking is not enough to cause any of these symptoms. Recently, however, teenagers have been using nutmeg as a soft drug, which often has not very good consequences.

7. Mushrooms. Edible and poisonous mushrooms

Mushrooms are considered a delicacy in many countries around the world, where they are grown commercially. But, as you know, there is also a family of poisonous mushrooms.

Many believe that there are clear signs of poisonous fungi, such as a ring on a stalk, an unpleasant odor, and a bright color. However, the only sure way to tell an edible mushroom from a poisonous one is to know and understand mushrooms well.

Signs of mushroom poisoning can appear after 1–2 hours, sometimes after 8–12 hours, and include abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. Poorly cooked and spoiled edible mushrooms can also be poisoned.

8. Chocolate.

Although chocolate is not toxic to humans, the theobromine ingredient in chocolate is harmful to dogs and cats. As little as 40 grams can seriously poison them, so don't leave chocolate treats where your pets can reach.

Although the dose of theobromine in chocolate is too small to cause unwanted effects, some older people do not tolerate chocolate well.

9. Green potatoes

Potatoes are one of the most common vegetables in the world. Just like tomatoes, potatoes contain glycoalkaloids in their stems and leaves. The tubers themselves are safe to eat unless they turn green and sprout.

Green potatoes contain solanine, which appears when exposed to ultraviolet light.

When consuming large amounts of solanine, signs of poisoning may appear: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and in severe cases, lead to coma and even death. This is why potatoes need to be stored in a cool, dark place.

10. Apples. Apple seeds

Apple seeds, like cherries and almonds, contain cyanide in small doses. However, to cause symptoms of poisoning, you need to eat a large amount of seeds.

If you accidentally swallow a few seeds whole, it will not affect your health, as our body can cope with a small amount of cyanide. However, chewing the seeds makes them more dangerous, especially for children and pets, for whom a lower dose of this substance is sufficient.

Many people like to split apricot kernels, and there are kernels that taste good. However, not everyone knows what danger lies in them, because they contain hydrocyanic acid.

What properties does hydrocyanic acid have? What harm can it cause to the body? How can you avoid this? We will reveal the answers to these and other questions later. And now about everything in order.

What is hydrocyanic acid

Hydrocyanic acid and its compounds (cyanides) is a natural insecticide, that is, a substance that protects plants from pests. The flora is rich in them. They are found in fruits and even leaves of many plant species. Hydrocyanic acid itself is outwardly a colorless liquid with the smell of bitter almonds, which can be felt at a low concentration. It has high volatility and low density, and is a highly toxic substance.

Hydrocyanic acid in bones is a natural compound. It is in the composition of glycosides, which are of low toxicity, as long as the integrity and dryness of the seeds is maintained. As soon as these conditions are violated, chemical reactions occur, leading to the release of hydrocyanic acid, that is, hydrocyanic acid.

Under the influence of moisture, hydrocyanic acid is formed in the pits of cherries, plums, apricots, peaches, mountain ash, cherries, apples, black elderberry, bitter almond kernels. All these plants belong to the Rosaceae family. It is the latter that is characterized by the presence of glycosides capable of releasing hydrocyanic acid.

Separately, it must be said about grapes. It belongs to the grape family, and they are not characterized by the release of hydrocyanic acid in the seeds. Therefore, grapes in the form of whole berries are used to make wine, which cannot be done with the listed "dangerous" fruits.

The content of hydrocyanic acid in plants

How much hydrocyanic acid is in bones?

The specific gravity of amygdalin, from which the toxic substance is released in the refined seeds, is:

Consequently, the least amount of hydrocyanic acid is found in the bones of an apple tree, so the risk of getting poisoned from these fruits is 4–5 times less than from bitter almonds.

Fatal and toxic dose

An interesting fact is known: the susceptibility to hydrocyanic acid is greater in humans and warm-blooded animals. While cold-blooded animals are less sensitive to its effects, the presence of a small amount of cyanide compounds in food is neutralized naturally without the development of poisoning.

It is believed that this is due to chemical reactions with sulfur-containing substances. When ingested from the same cherry pits of hydrocyanic acid in a higher concentration than can neutralize the protective mechanisms of neutralization, signs of poisoning appear.

According to various sources, a lethal or potentially severe poisoning dose of poison can be obtained by eating 40 grams of bitter almonds, or 100 kernels of apricot kernels, or 50-60 grams of kernels containing amygdalin. In terms of pure hydrocyanic acid contained in the seeds of apples and other fruits, the lowest lethal dose is less than 1 mg / kg.

It is also important to remember that preparing wine with pitted fruits creates a high risk of poisoning. But jam and compotes - no. If the latter contains a sufficient amount of sugar, which is an antidote to hydrocyanic acid, there will be no poisoning.

Intoxication of the body from hydrocyanic acid develops when its concentration in the blood reaches 0.24-0.97 mg / l.

The negative effect of hydrocyanic acid on the body

Inhibition of tissue respiration occurs, which is caused in the body by hydrocyanic acid, which is formed in apricot pits. This process occurs in all tissues and leads to a deficit of energy, which adversely affects, first of all, the activity of the central nervous system, and especially the brain.

The nervous system is more sensitive to a lack of "nutrition", as a result of which the structure of nerve cells changes irreversibly. The development of starvation of nerve cells with a normal oxygen content in the blood, which is an important component of tissue respiration and plays a major role in the supply of energy molecules, has been noticed. The toxin prevents the inclusion of oxygen in the reaction of their formation, which leads to its accumulation in the blood. A special appearance of those who died from poisoning is associated with this mechanism: the scarlet color of the skin and mucous membranes remains, which indicates the absence of oxygen starvation.

The action of the poison leads to the stimulation of the release of blood cells from the spleen, which is a consequence of energy starvation of the brain. According to research results, such a reaction occurs due to a direct reflex effect on the spleen. In other words, the body thinks that the energy deficit is caused by a lack of oxygen and, by stimulating the release of its carriers, tries to solve the problem and restore homeostasis.

At the same time, other vital organs are still capable of performing their functions. In those who died from hydrocyanic acid formed in the seeds of fruits, for example, plums, there are fewer changes in the heart, liver, kidneys, in contrast to the central nervous system. With prolonged action of the poison in the heart, over time, oxygen deficiency also appears due to the suppression of enzyme systems. Similar changes are taking place in other organs.

Tissues lose their ability to consume oxygen. The accumulation of the latter in the blood leads to a decrease in the arteriovenous difference, and then to its disappearance. In this case, venous blood during severe poisoning will look like arterial.

Hydrocyanic acid belongs to weak acids and, at the same time, is a reactogenic substance. There are many compounds in the body with which it can react. But since the process of interaction is slow, and pathological changes due to intoxication develop faster, so the toxic substance does not have time to react. The poison actively affects the content of hydrogen ions and leads to a shift in the pH of the medium to the acidic side, and as a result, non-respiratory (metabolic) acidosis develops.

Now it is clear why hydrocyanic acid is so dangerous and what pathological processes occur during poisoning.

What conclusions can be drawn? Do not eat the kernels from the Rosaceae family. Jam, compotes, wine should be made from seedless fruits. Or do not regret sugar on them. The exception is wine: except for grapes, all other berries must be taken without seeds. Compliance with simple rules will help keep yourself and your family healthy.

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