HealthAugust 29, 2026

glycosides

GLY-kuh-sahydz

Definition

A class of chemical compounds found in plants that consist of a sugar molecule bonded to a non-sugar component, often responsible for the sweet taste in natural extracts like stevia.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek 'glykys' meaning 'sweet,' combined with the chemical suffix '-ide.' The term was coined by chemists in the 19th century to describe these specific sugar-based plant compounds.

In the news

The article mentions steviol glycosides as the specific sweet compounds contained within stevia extract, which is being studied as a low-calorie alternative to sugar.

Brain scans reveal how artificial sweeteners affect our reward circuits differently than sugar

Read the full article ↗

PsyPost

Related words

allulose

A rare, naturally occurring low-calorie sugar that functions similarly to conventional…

Health

amygdala

A small, almond-shaped cluster of nuclei located deep within the temporal lobes of the…

Health

electromedical

Pertaining to equipment that uses electrical power to diagnose, treat, or monitor medical…

Health

steviol

A chemical compound belonging to the diterpene class, which serves as the core molecular…

Health

tegmental

Relating to the tegmentum, a part of the midbrain involved in regulating reward,…

Health

ventral

Relating to the underside, front, or abdominal surface of an organism or a specific body…

Health

Learn a word like this every day

Meet one new word every morning.

Newspoken pulls one carefully chosen word from the day’s news — with a clear definition, context, and light review that makes it stick. Get it on your phone.