What is the Difference Between Glucoside and Glycoside

The key difference between glucoside and glycoside is that in glucoside, the sugar group glucose is attached to the non-sugar group via a glycosidic bond, while in glycoside, a sugar group like monosaccharide, disaccharide, or oligosaccharide is attached to the non-sugar group via a glycosidic bond.

Glucoside is a type of glycoside which that only glucose when hydrolyzed. Glycoside is a molecule with a sugar group called glycone attached to a non-sugar group called aglycone by a nitrogen or oxygen atom (glycosidic bond). Glycosides produce sugars such as glucose, fructose, disaccharides, and oligosaccharides when hydrolyzed. Therefore, glucoside and glycoside are two related molecules.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Glucoside
3. What is Glycoside
4. Similarities – Glucoside and Glycoside
5. Glucoside vs Glycoside in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Glucoside vs Glycoside

What is Glucoside?

Glucoside is a molecule in which a sugar group called glucose is attached to the non-sugar group via a glycosidic bond. Glucoside is a type of glycoside that yields only glucose when hydrolyzed. Therefore, glucoside is a type of glycoside that is derived from glucose. It is more common in plants and very rare in animals. Glucose can be derived from glucoside by chemical means such as fermentation or enzymes. The molecular formula of glucoside is C₁₈ H₃₆ O₆.

Scientists give much attention to the non-sugar or aglycone part of the glucosides; in a greater number of cases, it is an aromatic aldehydic or phenolic group. Moreover, the simplest form of glucoside can be obtained by reacting hydrochloric acid on alcoholic glucose solutions or dissolving solid anhydrous glucose in methanol-containing hydrochloric acid. Furthermore, glucosides have various applications in various industries. They are used as an alternative sugar for food, as an ingredient for pharmaceuticals, and as solubilizing agents. Examples of glucosides include ethylene glucosides, benzene glucosides, styrolene glucosides, and anthracene glucosides.

What is Glycoside?

Glycoside is a molecule in which a sugar group, such as a monosaccharide, disaccharide, or oligosaccharide, is attached to the non-sugar group via a glycosidic bond. Glycosides produce sugars such as glucose, fructose, disaccharides, and oligosaccharides when hydrolyzed. Inactive glycosides are the primary type of chemical storage in many plants. The first glycoside discovered was amygdalin. It was discovered by French chemists called Pierre Robiquet and Antoine Boutron Charlard in 1830. The chemical formula of a glycoside is C₄₅H₇₄O₁₈.

Glycosides can be activated by enzymatic hydrolysis. This enzymatic hydrolysis causes the sugar part to be broken off. Many plant glycosides are used as medications (treating heart failure and certain irregular heartbeats). Moreover, several species of Heliconius butterflies use glycosides as a chemical defense against predators. Furthermore, in animals and humans, poisons can be eliminated from the body by using glycosides. Some examples of glycosides include anthraquinone glycosides, coumarin glycosides, cyanogen glycosides, flavonoid glycosides, glucosinolates glycosides, phenol glycosides, steroidal glycosides, terpenoid glycosides, and saponin glycosides.

What are the Similarities Between Glucoside and Glycoside?

• Glucoside and glycoside are two related molecules.
• Glucoside is a type of glycoside.
• Both molecules contain a sugar group attached to a non-sugar group through a glycosidic bond.
• Both molecules are the primary type of chemical storage in many plants
• These molecules are mainly found in plants and rarely in animals.
• Both molecules undergo fermentation or enzymatic hydrolyzing.
• They have many uses and applications in various industries.

What is the Difference Between Glucoside and Glycoside?

Glucoside is a molecule in which glucose is attached to a non-sugar group via a glycosidic bond, while glycoside is a molecule in which a sugar group like monosaccharide, disaccharide, or oligosaccharide is attached to a non-sugar group via a glycosidic bond. Thus, this is the key difference between glucoside and glycoside. Furthermore, the molecular formula of a glucoside is C₁₈ H₃₆ O_6, while the molecular formula of a glycoside is C₄₅H₇₄O₁₈.

The below infographic presents the differences between glucoside and glycoside in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Glucoside vs Glycoside

Glucoside and glycoside are two related molecules that are made up of a sugar group (glycone) attached to a non-sugar group (aglycone) through a glycosidic bond. In glucoside, glucose is attached to the non-sugar group via a glycosidic bond, while in glycoside, a sugar group like monosaccharide, disaccharide, or oligosaccharide is attached to the non-sugar group via a glycosidic bond. So, this is the key difference between glucoside and glycoside.

Reference:

1. “Glycoside.” An Overview | ScienceDirect Topics.
2. “Glucoside.” An Overview | ScienceDirect Topics.

Image Courtesy:

1. “P-hydoxybenzoic acid glucoside” By NotWith – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “3-O-Glycosides of quercetin” By Buli – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia