Glükosiide

Glükosiide is a collective term for a class of organic compounds formed by the glycosidic linkage of a carbohydrate, such as glucose, to another functional group, known as the aglycone or genin. This aglycone can be an alcohol, a phenol, a thiol, a sulfur analog, or a nitrogen-containing molecule. The carbohydrate part is called the glycone. This linkage typically occurs between the anomeric carbon of the sugar and a hydroxyl group of the aglycone, forming an O-glycoside, or through other functional groups to form S-glycosides, N-glycosides, or C-glycosides.

These compounds are widespread in nature and play crucial roles in various biological processes. For instance, plant glycosides are common and can have medicinal properties, acting as pigments, hormones, or toxins. Many plant-derived drugs, such as digoxin from foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) or salicin from willow bark (Salix species), are glycosides. In biological systems, glycosides are involved in cellular recognition, signaling, and detoxification. The glycosidic bond can be cleaved by enzymes called glycosidases, releasing the sugar and the aglycone. This hydrolysis is important for energy metabolism and the activation or inactivation of molecules. The properties of a glycoside are often determined by both the sugar moiety and the aglycone, influencing solubility, stability, and biological activity.