BOTANICAL IDENTITY
The right name is the first step.
Also known as: No synonyms listed.
This notice concerns the bitter seed inside the stone; it does not classify apricot flesh as a toxic medicinal drug. A photograph alone cannot establish identification for consumption.
An illustration is not enough to identify a plant for consumption. Do not forage for a species based solely on this profile.
01 · UNDERSTAND
Properties & uses.
Documentary reference — bitter seed
ANSM lists Prunus armeniaca for the following material: bitter seed. Inclusion in List B signals that potential adverse effects outweigh the expected therapeutic benefit. The entry does not establish clinical efficacy.
Read the sourceThe traditional uses described are not clinical proof of effectiveness. Evidence for one preparation cannot automatically be applied to another.
02 · UNDERSTAND THE ACTION
How does the plant act?
This toxicological dossier concerns Prunus armeniaca L.. Nausea, faintness and dizziness; severe poisoning may involve seizures, breathing problems or loss of consciousness. These risks support caution, not a therapeutic benefit.
Constituents to know.
Their presence and quantity depend on the plant part and preparation.
- Amygdaline
- This cyanogenic glycoside in bitter kernels can release cyanide during digestion.Read the reference
Cyanogenic risk, no established anticancer benefit
ANSES describes poisoning after bitter-kernel consumption. Cyanide release explains neurological and cardiorespiratory risk; anticancer claims are not scientifically supported.
Read the referenceWhat this means for preparation.
Do not consume or prepare the plant at home. After suspected exposure, seek poison-centre advice; breathing, neurological or cardiovascular symptoms require urgent help.
03 · EXAMINE THE EVIDENCE
What the research shows.
A laboratory or animal result alone does not demonstrate a benefit in humans. Each result must be read alongside the preparation studied and its limitations.
Bitter kernels: review of poison-centre reports
- Type of research
- Analysis of exposure cases recorded by French poison centres from 2012 to 2017, with a toxicology overview.
- Preparation concerned
- Exposures and products described by the source; no home dose or preparation is inferred.
- Observed results
- ANSES describes poisoning after bitter-kernel consumption. Cyanide release explains neurological and cardiorespiratory risk; anticancer claims are not scientifically supported.
- Limitations to consider
- The document identifies risks, does not systematically measure their frequency and establishes no safe quantity. Risks are not therapeutic properties.
What can we take from this?
“Insufficient evidence” refers to establishing therapeutic benefit and use, not to absence of the described risk. This notice does not replace individual toxicological assessment or establish a safe quantity.
Documentary review dated 09/10/2026. The references remain available to check the context.
04 · CHOOSE A PREPARATION
What is known about preparations?
Only forms documented in this profile’s sources are presented.
No form of use is recommended in this profile.
05 · BEFORE ANY USE
Precautions & contraindications.
This guidance does not cover every individual situation. Missing information is not a guarantee of safety.
Contraindications
- Safety precaution: do not use this material for self-medication or in a home preparation.
Medicine interactions
- Interactions specific to this species and each preparation are not established by this notice’s documentary sources. This does not establish compatibility with medicines.
Adverse effects
- Nausea, faintness and dizziness; severe poisoning may involve seizures, breathing problems or loss of consciousness.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: no home use is proposed; this notice does not establish evidence supporting use in these situations.
Children & adolescents
Do not give to children on the basis of this notice. A botanical inventory is not a paediatric safety evaluation.
If symptoms persist, worsen or are unusual, consult a healthcare professional. In an emergency, contact the emergency services.
06 · PUTTING KNOWLEDGE INTO PRACTICE
Preparations & recipes.
No recipe or home use is recommended in this documentary profile.
07 · CHECK THE SOURCES
Sources for this profile.
- ANSM — French Pharmacopoeia, List B, January 2026, p. 2Accessed on 09/10/2026
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — Plants of the World Online : Prunus armeniaca L.Accessed on 09/10/2026
- Bloch J. / ANSES (2018) — Amandes amères de noyaux d’abricots : à consommer avec beaucoup de modération. Vigil’Anses n° 5Accessed on 09/10/2026
A TOUCH OF SOLÉA
Myriam’s tip
Myriam is reviewing the tip for this profile.
Myriam