Cherry laurel

Synonyms Cherry laurel leaf Cherry laurel leaves English laurel leaves Laurel cherry leaves Prunus laurocerasus Prunus laurocerasus leaves Toxicology Highly toxic may be fatal if ingested may cause gasping, weakness, excitement, pupil dilation, spasms, convulsions, coma, respiratory failure... 

Laurel camphor. See Camphor Laurel cherry leaves. See Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) leaves... 

Capanoglu, E, Boyacioglu, D, de Vos, RCH, Hall, RD, Beekwilder, J. Procyanidins in fruit from Sour cherry Prunus cerasus) differ strongly in chain lenght from those in Laurel cherry Prunus lauracerasus) and Cornelian cherry Comus mas). J. Berry Res., 2011, 1, 137-146... 

Other assays have been used to evaluate the antioxidant activity against H202 of several plant-based products, namely, fruit juices from different cultivars of berries (Wang and Jiao 2000), fractions rich in phenolics isolated from the aqueous by-products obtained during the milling of oil palm fruits (Balasundram and others 2005), cherry laurel fruit and its concentrated juice (Liyana-Pathirana and others 2006), and strawberries and blackberries treated with methyl jasmonate, allyl isothiocyanate, essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia, and ethanol (Chanjirakul and others 2007). 

Liyana-Pathirana CM, Shahidi F and Alasalvar C. 2006. Antioxidant activity of cherry laurel fruit (Lauro-cerasus officinalis Roem.) and its concentrated juice. Food Chem 99(1) 121—128. 

Salicin is an (9-glycoside of a phenol, namely salicyl alcohol. Salicin is a natural antipyretic and analgesic found in willow bark, and is the template from which aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid, see Box 7.13) was developed. Prunasin from cherry laurel is an example of a cyanogenic glycoside, hydrolysis of which leads to release of toxic HCN (see Box 7.7). It is the (9-glucoside of the alcohol mandelonitrile, the trivial name for the cyanohydrin of benzaldehyde. It is the further hydrolysis of mandelonitrile that liberates HCN. 

Cyanogen does not exist in nature ready formed the kernels of peaches, plums, bitter almonds, et cetera, and the leaves of the cherry-laurel, yield, by distillation, Abundance of hydrocyanic acid, but it Is ouly then produced by the decomposition of other substances containing nitrogen. 

Artificial products, obtained by addition of aromatic substances to commercial alcohol, may however be recognised, as they contain little or no hydrocyanic acid and are rich in benzaldehyde. Kirschwasser and similar spirits are prepared, although rarely, from alcohol and bitter almond or cherry laurel water and in such cases hydrocyanic acid is present. Artificial products are generally prepared from rectified alcohol and thus have a low coefficient of impurity and contain only very small amounts of higher alcohols. 

Godwin, H. and Bishop, L.R. (1927) The behaviour of the cyanogenic glucosides of cherry laurel during starvation. New Phytol, 26, 295-315. 

Emxdsin (synaptase), found in the seeds of the Bitter Almond, Cherry Laurel leaves, in the barks of the Wild Black Cherry and Choke Cherry and in other Rosaceous plant parts, in Manihot utilissima, Polygala species, etc., hydrolyzes the glucoside present (either amygdalin or 1-mandelonitrile glucoside) to hydrocyanic acid, benzaldehyde and glucose. 

Chemical Name Prunus species Synonyms Prunus armeniaca (Apricot) P. avium (sweet cherry) P. caroliniana (cherry laurel) P. cerasus (sour cherry) P. domestica (common plum) P. dulcis (almond) P. malus pumila (common apple and crab apple) P. persica (peach) P. serotina (wild cherry) P. virginiana (chokecherry) Chemical/Pharmaceutical/Other Class Cyano-genic glycosides... 

Egyptians and Romans were known to use poisonous plant extracts as a method of suicide and murder. Preparations of cherry laurel water containing cyanogenic glycosides distilled from the bark of the tree were used by Romans, including Lacosta, who used such material to poison individuals who displeased Nero (Sollmann, 1948). 

Garden Of Eden Natural Foods Country Kitchen (1155 N. Route 73, Mt. Laurel, it 609-778-1971), a little farther west of Cherry Hill, goes beyond the usual natural food store deli. The Country Kitchen serves three all-vegetarian meals, including a very popular Sunday brunch. There is also a good supply of organic groceries and a juice bar. 

CHERRY LAUREL Prunus lauroccrasus, L., Family Amygdalaceae, is cultivated in Western Europe as ornamental shrub. It is mainly the leaves but also buds, bark and seeds which are poisonous due to the occurrence of cyanoge-netic glycosides. The symptoms can include delayed nausea, vomiting and palpitation of the heart. In serious cases respiratory depression, unconsciousness and spasms occur. 

Amygd ln, C H NO —457—exists in cherry-laurel and in bitter almonds but not in sweet dmonds. Its characteristic reaction is that in the presence of emidnn, which exists in sweet as well as in bitter... 

Syrup 01 MCilk. Evaporate, with constant stirring, 6 pounds of skimmed milk to 3 pound.s md pounds of sugar dissolve with a gentle heat, and strain. It may be flavored with the addition of 1 ounce of cherry-laurel water. Milk may be preserved by first heating it, and, when cold, charging it with carbonic acid gas. 

Belladonna Liniment for Lead Colic. Take 40 grains extract of belladonna. 1 drachm rectified ether, aud 2 fluid ounces cherry-laurel water. As a friction to the abilomeo in lead colic. 

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