Cyanogenic glycosides are natural plant toxicants. They are widely distributed in the plant kingdom including many that are commonly consumed by humans. Cyanogenic glycosides serve as important chemical weapons in the defence of the plant against herbivores because of the potential to generate toxic hydrogen cyanide. Amygdalin is the most common of the cyanogenic glycosides. It is present in abundance in the seeds and kernels of fruits such as apricot, almond, apple, cherry, plum, peach and nectarine. When cyanogenic plants are ingested by humans, enzymes produced by the intestinal microflora...