Linamarin

Linamarin is a cyanogenic glucoside found in the leaves and roots of plants such as cassava, lima beans, and flax. It can decompose to the toxic chemical hydrogen cyanide; hence food uses of plants that contain significant quantities of linamarin are inhibited by extensive preparation and detoxification requirements. Linamarin itself is not acutely toxic, although neurotoxic effects of long-term exposure have been suggested. Consumption of linamarin-containing cassava products is widespread in the developing world and has been associated with dietary toxicity, particularly with the upper motor neuron disease known as konzo to the African populations in which it was first described, through the work of Hans Rosling. Recent research efforts have developed a transgenic cassava plant that stably downregulates linamarin production via RNA interference.