The rare cyanogen proteacin, and dhurrin, from foliage of Polyscias australiana, a tropical Araliaceae

Proteacin and dhurrin were identified as foliar cyanogens in Polyscias australiana. This marks the first structure report of cyanogenic glycosides in the Araliaceae and the order Apiales. Leaf tissues lack a specific cyanogenic β-glucosidase to catalyse the breakdown of these cyanogens.