GLUCOSIDE Meaning and
Definition
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A glucoside is a type of chemical compound that consists of a sugar molecule, specifically glucose, linked to another non-sugar molecule through a glycosidic bond. It belongs to the larger group of glycosides, which are widely distributed in nature and play various roles in biological systems. Glucosides are characterized by their ability to hydrolyze through the action of certain enzymes or acids, yielding glucose and the non-sugar component.
Glucosides are commonly found in plants and serve important functions such as energy storage, defense mechanisms, and signal transduction. They can be classified into different types based on the nature of the non-sugar component they are linked to. For example, there are flavonoid glucosides, which contribute to the pigmentation of flowers and fruits, and cardiac glycosides, which are potent medicines used to treat heart-related conditions.
These compounds have been extensively studied for their potential therapeutic uses. Glucosides possess bioactive properties, and some have been found to exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, and antioxidant effects. They have also been investigated for their role in managing diabetes and as natural sweeteners. Due to their abundance and diverse biological activities, glucosides remain a subject of interest in fields such as pharmacology, medicine, and natural product chemistry.
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The name of a class of substances in plants, often forming the active therapeutic principle, which can be resolved into glucose and an acid.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for GLUCOSIDE
Etymology of GLUCOSIDE
The word "glucoside" is derived from two components - "gluco" and "side".
The first part, "gluco", comes from the French word "glucose". Glucose is a type of sugar that occurs naturally in many fruits and plants. It was originally named by the French chemist Étienne François Geoffroy in the late 18th century. The term "glucose" itself is derived from the Greek word "glukus", meaning "sweet".
The second part, "side", refers to the combination of sugar with another compound. In chemistry, the term "side" is used to denote a substance that is linked to another component, in this case, glucose. So, the term "glucoside" essentially refers to a compound that is composed of a glucose molecule bound to another substance or compound.
Similar spelling words for GLUCOSIDE
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