LAETRILE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does laetrile mean? 

• LAETRILE (noun)
  The noun LAETRILE has 1 sense:

1. a substance derived from amygdalin; publicized as an antineoplastic drug although there is no supporting evidence

  Familiarity information: LAETRILE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LAETRILE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A substance derived from amygdalin; publicized as an antineoplastic drug although there is no supporting evidence

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Hypernyms ("laetrile" is a kind of...):

amygdalin (a bitter cyanogenic glucoside extracted from the seeds of apricots and plums and bitter almonds)

 Context examples 

Over the years the meaning of laetrile has changed.

(Laetrile, NCI Thesaurus)

Laetrile is not approved for use in the United States.

(Laetrile, NCI Dictionary)

In addition, benzaldehyde has been associated with amygdalin (laetrile), since one of amygdalins breakdown products is benzaldehyde.

(Benzaldehyde, NCI Thesaurus)

Also called laetrile.

(Amygdalin, NCI Dictionary)

Laetrile has been used as an anticancer treatment in humans worldwide, but scientific evidence does not support its effectiveness.

(Laetrile, NCI Thesaurus)

Cyanide and benzaldehyde are metabolites of both laetrile and amygdalin.

(Laetrile, NCI Thesaurus)

Originally, the name laetrile was the contraction of laevo-mandelonitrile glucoside, a cyanogenic glycoside found naturally in some plants.

(Laetrile, NCI Thesaurus)

Laetrile and amygdalin are often used interchangeably, but are different agents.

(Laetrile, NCI Thesaurus)