glükosid

Glükosid is a type of organic compound formed when a sugar molecule, typically glucose, attaches to another functional group through a glycosidic bond. The sugar part is called the glycone, and the non-sugar part is called the aglycone. This linkage can involve various types of sugars beyond glucose, such as galactose or fructose, and the aglycone can be an alcohol, phenol, thiol, or amine.

These compounds are widespread in nature and play crucial roles in various biological processes. For example, many plant pigments, such as anthocyanins, are glycosides. They are also involved in defense mechanisms in plants and can act as signaling molecules. In pharmacology, several important drugs are glycosides, including cardiac glycosides like digoxin, which are used to treat heart conditions.

The glycosidic bond can be broken by hydrolysis, typically catalyzed by enzymes called glycosidases or by acidic conditions. This process releases the sugar molecule and the aglycone. The properties and functions of a glycoside are often determined by the nature of its aglycone. Understanding the structure and properties of glycosides is important in fields like biochemistry, pharmacology, and food science.