Glycoside

Glycosides are polymers in which a monosaccharide or a derivative of a monosaccharide is bound to a small non-carbohydrate molecule called an aglycone.

Classification of glycosides

Glycosides are classified according to their glucidic part, their aglycone part or the type of polymer bond. In living organisms, the aglycone part can be made available by enzyme hydrolysis, which breaks off the sugar part.

Among the glycosides are:

• cardiac substances (digitalin);
• pigments (anthocyanins and flavones);
• tannins;
• nucleotides.