laetrile

[ ley-i-tril ]
/ ˈleɪ ɪ trɪl /

noun

a controversial drug, purported to cure cancer, prepared from the pits of apricots or peaches and containing about 6 percent cyanide by weight: banned by the FDA.

Origin of laetrile

1950–55; said to be a contraction of l-mandelonitrile, equivalent to l- + German Mandel almond + -o- + nitrile

British Dictionary definitions for laetrile

laetrile
/ (ˈleɪəˌtraɪl) /

noun

an extract of peach stones, containing amygdalin, sold as a cure for cancer but judged useless and possibly dangerous by medical scientists

Word Origin for laetrile

C20: from laevorotatory + nitrile

Medical definitions for laetrile

laetrile
[ lāĭ-trĭl′, -trəl ]

n.

A drug derived from amygdalin from apricot pits and purported to have antineoplastic properties.