Prunus dulcis

Author:Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer

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Last updated on: 13.07.2025

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Synonym(s)

Almond Tree; bitter almond; common amygdalus; Prunus amygdalus; Sweet Almond

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DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.

Prunus dulcis (from the Latin prunum, plum), the almond tree belongs to the rose family and is now mainly cultivated in California and the Mediterranean region (e.g. Mallorca). The tree reaches a height of three to eight meters. Depending on the variety, it forms a spreading crown.

A distinction is made between the varieties:

  • Prunus dulcis var. dulcis with sweet almonds and
  • Prunus dulcis var. amara with bitter almonds.

The somewhat felty, hairy, initially light green, later dark brown, leathery, firm, approximately plum-sized drupes of Prunus dulcis contain an approximately 2 cm large, cream-colored seed kernel, the actual almond, enclosed in a light brown seed coat. Antioxidants are concentrated in the seed coat, which prevent the penetration of atmospheric oxygen and thus the rancidity of the almond's stored oils.

The cream-colored, approximately 1.8-2.5 cm long almond kernels taste sweet or bitter, depending on the variety. In cosmetics, different parts of the almond fruit (the whole fruit, almond kernels, pressing residue) and also the leaves of the almond tree are used.

Cosmetics industry: see below

Ingredient(s)This section has been translated automatically.

Ingredients of Semen amygdale dulce (sweet almonds): 40-65% fatty oil, 10% sucrose, glucose, 30% protein, choline, asparagine, max. 0.1% amygdalin, emulsin, enzymes.

Ingredients of Semen amygdale amarae (bitter almonds): 30-50% fatty oil, up to 30% protein, choline, asparagine, 1.5-8% amygdalin, from which hydrocyanic acid can develop enzymatically or in an acidic environment (the consumption of large quantities of bitter almonds can be fatal; for children these are 5-12 bitter almonds, for adults 50-80 bitter almonds.

OccurrenceThis section has been translated automatically.

Note(s)This section has been translated automatically.

Cave: raw bitter almonds are poisonous due to the development of hydrocyanic acid - see under ingredients

LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.

  1. Ammon H et al (2014). Hunnius Pharmaceutical Dictionary. Walter de Gruyter GmbH Berlin/Boston S 1478

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Last updated on: 13.07.2025