Naturally Occurring Glycosides: Chemistry, Distribution, Biological Properties

Glycosides are sugar derivatives in which the hydroxyl (-OH) group attached to carbon 1 is substituted by an alcoholic, phenolic or other groups which are used medicinally for their stimulant effects on the heart. There are a number of glycocides which occur in nature, mainly in plants. These compounds have found importance in therapeutic, nutritional and clinical use because they possess a variety of biological activities. Summarizing significant contemporary information on chemical, nutritional, biological and medicinal aspects of naturally occurring glycosides, this book presents a sequence of chapters that deal with chemical structures, occurrence, biosynthetic and biological activity. It contains: mono- and tri-terpenoid, limonoid, cyanogenic, steroidal, phenolic, cardiac active glycosides, as well as steroidal glycoalkaloids, aminoglycosidic antibiotics, saponins, and glycoproteins and glycolipids. The presence of glycosides and glycoconjugates in animals and micro-organisms is also included.