steroid glycoside

biochemistry

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Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

A steroid glycoside is a type of naturally occurring substance where a carbohydrate portion is linked to a steroid molecule. These compounds are found in various plants and some animal products.1

Key characteristics include:
* Structure: They consist of a sugar or uronic acid (the carbohydrate part) attached to a steroid aglycon (the non-sugar part).1
* Occurrence: Many are found in plants, contributing to pigments like anthocyanins, and some have medicinal uses, such as cardiac glycosides from Digitalis which stimulate the heart.12
* Function: Some steroid glycosides, like saponins, have surface-active properties and can form soapy solutions. Others, such as those derived from glucuronic acid, are found in animal urine.13

Steroid glycosides are important in both natural products chemistry and pharmacology.124

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steroid
Cardiac glycosides and aglycones
…of the cardanolide type as glycosides (compounds that contain structural groups derived from sugars) of up to four sugar residues, which may include glucose, rhamnose, and 10 other sugars characteristic of this group of natural products. Typically, these compounds are 5β-steroids and have 3β- and 14β-hydroxyl groups, but hydroxyl groups…
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…of the cardanolide type as glycosides (compounds that contain structural groups derived from sugars) of up to four sugar residues, which may include glucose, rhamnose, and 10 other sugars characteristic of this group of natural products. Typically, these compounds are 5β-steroids and have 3β- and 14β-hydroxyl groups, but hydroxyl groups…
Read More