What are the Mechanisms of Toxicity for Glycosides?
The mechanism of toxicity for glycosides varies based on the class. Cardiac glycosides inhibit the sodium-potassium ATPase pump, leading to increased intracellular calcium and enhanced cardiac contractility, which can result in fatal arrhythmias if overdosed. Cyanogenic glycosides release hydrogen cyanide, which inhibits cytochrome c oxidase in the mitochondria, leading to cellular hypoxia and death. Saponins can disrupt cell membranes, causing hemolysis of red blood cells at high concentrations.
