Botanical name Prunus dulcis (Mill.) var. amara
Botanical synonyms Prunus communis L. var. amara, Prunus amygdalus Batsch. var. amara, Amydalus communis L. var. amara, prunus amygdalus var amara
Family Rosaceae
Source Kernels
Color/Consistency Bitter Almond Oil is a colorless or yellowish, clear, thin, and strongly refractive liquid, which have a characteristic, aromatic odor as well as a bitter taste
Blends With Cassia, Orange and Apricot oils.
Aroma
Sweet, nutty, intense aroma of almonds reminiscent of marzipan and almond extract, with strong notes of cherry.
Product Abstract
The health benefits of bitter Almond Essential Oil can be attributed to its properties as a vermifuge, febrifuge, bactericidal, germicidal, fungicidal, sedative, anesthetic, aperient, diuretic, anti-intoxicating, anti-carcinogenic, and antispasmodic susbstance.
The bitter almond tree (prunus dulcis, var. amara) also produces an almond, but broader and shorter in shape. From these is produced a lesser quantity of the fixed oil along with an emulsion which yields glucose, cyanide, and the essential oil of bitter almonds, which is nearly pure benzaldehyde.
History
Almonds and almond oil date back to pre-Biblical times and were mentioned in the Bible as well. The benefits of almond oil were well known in Greece and Italy prior to the Christian era. Almonds were mentioned in old Greek mythology, as well as in classical Shakespearean writings. Domestic almonds are said to have first appeared during the Bronze Age, between 3000 and 2000 B.C. and were one of the earliest domestic trees used for their seeds and oil.
Harvesting/Extraction Information
tree produces large, smooth almonds and offers 60–65% edible kernel per nut. The 'Tuono' has thicker, hairier shells and offers only 32% of edible kernel per nut, but having a thick shell has advantages. The 'Tuono's' shell protects the nut from threatening pests such as the navel orangeworm. ARS researchers have managed to crossbreed the pest-resistant 'Tuono' tree with the 'Nonpareil', resulting in hybridized cultivars of almond trees that are self-pollinated and maintain a high nut quality. The new, self-pollinating hybrids possess quality skin color, flavor, and oil content, and reduce almond growers' dependency on insect pollination
Common Usage
Caution
Hydrogen cyanide is a deadly poison and so are glycoside amygdalin and benzaldehyde. So, extreme care should be taken in case of both internal and external applications. A small mistake or overdose can be fatal. It should never be given to babies, children, the elderly, or seriously ill people.
Key constituents
Benzaldehyde 98%
Quality Benzaldehyde may be used as an adulterant of, or a complete substitute for bitter almond oil (Burfield 2003). Benzaldehyde is susceptible to autoxidation.
Safety summary
Hazards None known.
Cautions Old or oxidized oils should be avoided.
Maximum adult daily oral dose 357 mg
Our safety advice Our oral maximum of is based on 98% benzaldehyde and a benzaldehyde limit of 5 mg/kg/day. Oxidation of bitter almond oil should be avoided by storage in a dark, airtight container in a refrigerator. The addition of an antioxidant to preparations containing it is recommended.
Regulatory guidelines Has GRAS status. A group ADI of 0–5 mg/kg body weight for benzoic acid, the benzoate salts, benzaldehyde, benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol and benzyl benzoate, expressed as benzoic acid equivalents, was established by JECFA in 1996.
Organ-specific effects
Adverse skin reactions Undiluted bitter almond oil FFPA produced hyperkeratosis and dry desquamation when applied to mice or pigs; tested at 4% on 25 volunteers, the oil was neither irritating nor sensitizing. It is non-phototoxic.
Systemic effects
Acute toxicity Bitter almond oil FFPA acute oral LD50 in rats 1.49 mL/kg; acute dermal LD50 in rabbits >3 g/kg.
Carcinogenic/anticarcinogenic potential No information was found for bitter almond oil FFPA, but it contains no known carcinogens. Benzaldehyde is anticarcinogenic in humans.
Comments FFPA denotes ‘free from prussic acid’. Prussic acid, or hydrocyanic acid is highly toxic, and is formed during the distillation of the essential oil. The HCN is removed by treatment with calcium hydroxide and ferrous sulfate in order to make the oil safe for human use. A maximum of 0.01% HCN is permitted. The benzaldehyde in bitter almond oil has a tendency to oxidize to benzoic acid.
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