Recent Advances in the Chemistry of Cyanogenic Glycosides

TLDR: The cyanogenic glycosides, here defined as glycosidic derivatives of α-hydroxynitriles, represent a rather limited class of natural products, which are widely distributed in the plant kingdom and, to a small extent, even in animals.

Abstract: The cyanogenic glycosides, here defined as glycosidic derivatives of α-hydroxynitriles, represent a rather limited class of natural products, which are widely distributed in the plant kingdom and, to a small extent, even in animals. A characteristic feature of these glycosides is their ability to release hydrocyanic acid on treatment with dilute acids or appropriate enzymes. The term “cyanogenic” is used to designate this property, regardless of whether pure substances, plants, or animals, are serving as the source. In the latter cases the term “cyanophoric” is occasionally employed synonymously.