Prunus dulcis

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

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.

• Prunus amygdalus amara extract (INCI): extract from the seeds of the bitter almond
• Prunus amygdalus amara oil (INCI): Extract from the seeds of the bitter almond (Prunus amygdalus amara)
• Prunus amygdalus dulcis extract (INCI): Extract from the seeds of the sweet almond (Prunus amygdalus var. dulcis)
• Prunus amygdalus dulcis meal (INCI): Extract from the residue left after pressing the kernels of sweet almonds (Prunus amygdalus dulcis).
• Prunus amygdalus dulcis oil (INCI): the oil of the sweet almond (Prunus amygdalus dulcis) obtained by cold-pressing the almond seeds
• Prunus amygdalus dulcis protein (INCI): the protein material obtained from the cold pressing of almond seeds of the sweet almond (Prunus amygdalus dulcis)
• Prunus amygdalus dulcis seed extract (INCI): Extract from the dried ripe seeds of the sweet almond.
• Prunus amygdalus amara extract (INCI): extract from the seeds of the bitter almond
• Almond bran (Farina amygdalarum): almond bran is used for cosmetic and naturopathic purposes. Almond bran is obtained from the pressing residues that arise during the production of almond oil.

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

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