Apricot

Scientific Name(s): Prunus armeniaca L.
Common Name(s): Apricot, Apricot kernel oil, Semen Armeniacae, Vitamin B17

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 21, 2021.

Clinical Overview

Use

Apricots are used as a dietary source of vitamins and minerals, and in confectionery. Apricot kernels have been used for cancer treatment; however, there is no clinical evidence to support this use.

Dosing

No clinical evidence is available to provide guidance on dosing of apricots or apricot-containing products.

Contraindications

Contraindications have not been identified. Consumption of the dried ripe seeds of P. armeniaca is not recommended during pregnancy or breast-feeding, or in children.

Pregnancy/Lactation

Apricot fruit is generally recognized as safe (GRAS). Doses greater than those found in food should be avoided because safety and efficacy are unproven. Consumption of apricot kernels or laetrile is not recommended in pregnant or breast-feeding women.

Interactions

None well documented.

Adverse Reactions

Hypersensitivity and adverse reactions similar to cyanide poisoning have been reported.

Toxicology

Cyanide poisoning and death have resulted from laetrile and apricot kernel ingestion.

Scientific Family

• Rosaceae (rose)

Botany

Apricot trees grow up to 9 m in height. The plant leaves are oval and finely serrated, and the 5-petaled white flowers grow in clusters. The downy, orange-red drupe (fruit) ripens in late summer and has a fleshy outer layer and inner hard stone containing the seed (kernel). The apricot is native to China and Japan but is also cultivated in warmer, temperate regions of the world, including Turkey, Iran, southern Europe, South Africa, Australia, and California. The many varieties and species of apricot differ in flavor, color, and size, and are related to other members of the plum genus, including the peach. 1, 2, 3 Synonyms include P. armeniaca L. var. vulgaris Zabel, Armeniaca vulgaris Lam., Amygdalus armeniaca (L.) Dumort., and Armeniaca vulgaris Lam.

History

The apricot has been used medicinally for more than 2,000 years in India and China. The Greeks wrongly assumed that the apricot originated in Armenia, hence its botanical name P. armeniaca. The Romans named the fruit "praecocium," meaning "precocious," which refers to the fruit's early ripening. From this word, the name "apricot" evolved3, 4

In Chinese medicine, the amygdalin present in apricot kernels has been traditionally prescribed in very small amounts for treating asthma, cough, and constipation.3, 4 A decoction of the plant's bark has been used as an astringent to soothe irritated skin. In folk medicine, other uses include the treatment of hemorrhage, infertility, eye inflammation, and spasms. Apricot kernel paste has been used in vaginal infections. The oil has been used in cosmetics and as a vehicle in certain pharmaceutical formulations4, 5

Chemistry

The fresh apricot fruit contains carbohydrates, vitamins C and K, beta-carotene, thiamine, niacin, and iron. Organic acids, phenols, volatile compounds (eg, benzaldehyde), some esters, norisoprenoids, and terpenoids have also been isolated.6, 7, 8 When apricot seed essential oil was evaluated under spectroscopy, benzaldehyde was the predominant compound, with lesser amounts o...