What is the Toxicological Significance of Glycosides?
Glycosides can be either beneficial or toxic depending on their structure and concentration. Cardiac glycosides, for example, are used therapeutically for heart conditions but can be highly toxic at elevated doses. Cyanogenic glycosides are notorious for their ability to produce hydrogen cyanide, a potent toxin, upon hydrolysis. Understanding the toxicity and safe usage levels of glycosides is crucial in both medicine and environmental science.
