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This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Ku Xing Ren Seed (Prunus armeniaca semen) is a medicinal seed used in traditional medicine for various ailments, including lung diseases [PMID: 41034926, PMID: 35890519].
Background
The seed of the apricot tree (Prunus armeniaca L.), also known as apricot kernel, is utilized globally for medicinal, edible, and cosmetic purposes [PMID: 36778095, PMID: 35890519]. It is described as an herbal medicinal product in the Chinese and Korean pharmacopeias [PMID: 35890519].
Traditional uses
Traditionally used to treat lung diseases [PMID: 41034926], as well as for inflammatory skin conditions such as boils and acne [PMID: 40841614]. Other reported uses include as an antipyretic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, emetic, and ophthalmic remedy [PMID: 35890519].
Active compounds
Key bioactive compounds include the cyanogenic glycoside amygdalin [PMID: 35919360, PMID: 41034926], prunasin [PMID: 39524411], and various phenolic compounds, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, and alkaloids [PMID: 39544277, PMID: 39246415]. The kernel oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, specifically oleic and linoleic acids, as well as tocopherols [PMID: 36778095, PMID: 27262314].
Mechanism of action
Amygdalin has been shown to induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells by modulating intracellular proteolysis and downregulating 20S and 26S proteasome activities [PMID: 36364419]. In lung injury models, amygdalin protects the alveolar epithelial barrier by regulating the vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor [PMID: 41034926]. It also inhibits Th2 immune responses to alleviate skin inflammation [PMID: 40841614].
Clinical evidence
Evidence ACOVID-19
Bitter Apricot Seed (Kuxingren) is used as part of Chinese herbal medicine formulas for the prevention and control of COVID-19 [PMID: 32622723]
Evidence DNeuropathic Pain
Apricot kernel oil demonstrated analgesic effects in rats with chronic constriction injury [PMID: 39170485]
Evidence DUlcerative Colitis
Apricot kernel extract and oil showed anti-inflammatory effects and ameliorated TNBS-induced ulcerative colitis in rats [PMID: 25657793]
Evidence CCancer
Apricot kernels may help fight against various diseases such as cancer and cancer immunotherapy [PMID: 35892769]
Safety & adverse effects
Apricot kernels contain cyanogenic glycosides that can lead to cyanide toxicity, as evidenced by a fatal case in a canine [PMID: 38802050]. In humans, a case report linked a TCM supplement containing apricot kernel to tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy (TIC) in a patient with cardiovascular risk factors [PMID: 39845213].
Drug interactions
Potential for serious cardiac conditions when used with modern medications or in non-traditional dosages [PMID: 39845213].
Evidence summary
The evidence consists primarily of in vitro studies, animal models (rats, rabbits, canines), and review articles. There is one systematic review/meta-analysis regarding its use in COVID-19 formulas and one human case report regarding cardiac adverse effects.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 35892769 (2022) — Apricot Kernel: Bioactivity, Characterization, Applications, and Health Attributes. · Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
3.PMID: 36778095 (2023) — Apricot kernel characterization, oil extraction, and its utilization: a review. · Food science and biotechnology
4.PMID: 30728542 (2019) — Production, pomological and nutraceutical properties of apricot. · Journal of food science and technology
5.PMID: 39710033 (2025) — A review on apricot kernel seed proteins and peptides: Biological functions and food applications. · International journal of biological macromolecules
Government sources
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
6.PMID: 35890519 (2022) — Anticancer Potential and Other Pharmacological Properties of Prunus armeniaca L.: An Updated Overview. · Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
7.PMID: 39170485 (2024) — Analgesic effect of apricot kernel oil on neuropathic pain in rats. · Heliyon
8.PMID: 34556150 (2021) — AprGPD: the apricot genomic and phenotypic database. · Plant methods
9.PMID: 36450584 (2022) — Near-Infrared Metabolic Profiling for Discrimination of Apricot and Peach Kernels. · Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
10.PMID: 35629454 (2022) — Removing Pollutants from Sewage Waters with Ground Apricot Kernel Shell Material. · Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
11.PMID: 35919360 (2022) — Rapid quantitative typing spectra model for distinguishing sweet and bitter apricot kernels. · Food science and biotechnology
12.PMID: 39544277 (2024) — Unlocking the Therapeutic and Antimicrobial Potential of Prunus armeniaca L. Seed Kernel Oil. · International journal of food science
13.PMID: 41034926 (2025) — Amygdalin regulated vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor to protect alveolar epithelial barrier against lung injury induced by influenza a virus. · Chinese medicine
14.PMID: 26396287 (2014) — Value addition of wild apricot fruits grown in North-West Himalayan regions-a review. · Journal of food science and technology
16.PMID: 40363749 (2025) — Batch and Continuous Lipase-Catalyzed Production of Dietetic Structured Lipids from Milk Thistle, Grapeseed, and Apricot Kernel Oils. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
17.PMID: 39246415 (2024) — Analgesic, Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Wound-Treating Actions of Bitter Apricot Kernel Extract. · Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences
18.PMID: 40421425 (2025) — Protective effects of apricot kernel oil and metformin against BPA-induced ovarian toxicity in rat models of polycystic ovary syndrome: insights into PI3K/AKT and mitochondrial apoptosis pathways. · Toxicology research
19.PMID: 25657793 (2014) — Anti-inflammatory effect of Prunus armeniaca L. (Apricot) extracts ameliorates TNBS-induced ulcerative colitis in rats. · Research in pharmaceutical sciences
20.PMID: 39524411 (2024) — Transcriptome analysis reveals genes associated with the bitter-sweet trait of apricot kernels. · Forestry research
21.PMID: 32622723 (2020) — Chinese herbal medicine for coronavirus disease 2019: A systematic review and meta-analysis. · Pharmacological research
22.PMID: 38341481 (2024) — Effect of apricot kernel seed extract on biophysical properties of chitosan film for packaging applications. · Scientific reports
23.PMID: 40841614 (2025) — Amygdalin alleviates atopic dermatitis-like skin inflammation via inhibition of Th2 immune responses. · Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology
24.PMID: 36364419 (2022) — Targeting Proteolysis with Cyanogenic Glycoside Amygdalin Induces Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Cells. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
25.PMID: 21779763 (2011) — Antioxidant capacity and phenolics content of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) kernel as a function of genotype. · Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
26.PMID: 30698299 (2019) — Potential toxicity of cyanogenic glycoside amygdalin and bitter apricot seed in rabbits-Health status evaluation. · Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
28.PMID: 38802050 (2024) — Cyanide toxicity secondary to apricot (Prunus armeniaca) kernel meal ingestion in a canine. · Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology
29.PMID: 33670310 (2021) — Accumulation Pattern of Amygdalin and Prunasin and Its Correlation with Fruit and Kernel Agronomic Characteristics during Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) Kernel Development. · Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
30.PMID: 37701210 (2023) — Technological, nutritional, and biological properties of apricot kernel protein hydrolyzates affected by various commercial proteases. · Food science & nutrition