Been researching a bit. Thought others may find these excerpts interesting. ~Hanan
http://www2.abc.net.au/science/k2/stn/june2000/posts/topic84953.shtm cyanide sources Members of the rose family, Rosaceae, often contain compounds called cyanogenic glycosides. These compounds, when broken down in the body, liberate cyanide, one of the most toxic substances known to man. It's lethal dose is only 1 mg/kg body weight. Luckily for us, the concentration in these plants is usually far below the toxic dose, and the breakdown of the cyanogenic glycosides is often not complete. However, several species in common cultivation do have high concentrations of the glycosides in their seeds, and eating these seeds can (and has been) fatal. These toxic seeds include apple seeds, cultivated cherries, peach and apricot pits, almonds, and pears, which are all members of the rose family. The leaves of wild cherries will also contain the poison. Cyanogenic glycosides are not exclusive to this family, though: more than 2050 species of higher plants contain them. Some other common plants which can generate cyanide include hydrangeas, tropical lima beans (not the white american ones), bamboo sprouts, sorghum shoots, and cassava tubers. Cassava, in particular, is very toxic, and cannot be eaten raw; this is important since large parts of the world use cassava as a main carbohydrate source. P.S. Roses themselves don't contain the cyanide-producing compounds. http://www.msnbc.com/news/456250.asp?cp1=1 PLANTS LIKE the hydrangea and African potato contain an enzyme called linamarase that is capable of generating cyanide when they are damaged by animals or insects. The scientists believe they can attach that enzyme to a cancer-seeking antibody capable of recognizing a protein found only in certain cancers. The method — known as AGENT (Antibody Guided Enzyme Nitrile Therapy) — would produce an agent that could potentially kill cancer cells and leave healthy tissue unharmed. Dr. Mahendra Deonarain of Imperial College’s Department of Biochemistry told the British Association’s Festival of Science meeting in London that the work was still at an early stage but was promising. PROMISE OF DEADLY POISON “We have demonstrated that this system is able to specifically kill tumor cells by cyanide intoxication,” he said. “The next step is to identify the best molecule to proceed before we go on to animal studies.” Despite the deadly nature of cyanide, the amount generated by the technique is only sufficient to kill the specific cancer cell targeted by the combined enzyme-antibody molecule. A natural enzyme produced in the human liver should detoxify any cyanide that leaks away from the tumor. http://howstuffworks.lycos.com/news-item212.htm The cancer-killing treatments currently available cease to be effective as cancer cells develop a resistance; but cancer cells are unable to build up a resistance to the effects of cyanide. Despite cyanide's deadly nature, the small amount generated by this technique is only enough to kill the cancer cells; it does not harm the healthy cells around the tumor. Plus, a natural enzyme produced by the liver detoxifies any cyanide that does seep away from the tumor and into surrounding tissue. Doctor's Who Advocate B17 http://www.credence.org/doctors.html -- The silver-list is a moderated forum for discussion of colloidal silver. To join or quit silver-list or silver-digest send an e-mail message to: [email protected] -or- [email protected] with the word subscribe or unsubscribe in the SUBJECT line. To post, address your message to: [email protected] Silver-list archive: http://escribe.com/health/thesilverlist/index.html List maintainer: Mike Devour <[email protected]>
