Glycoalkaloid

Glycoalkaloids are a family of chemical compounds derived from alkaloids to which sugar groups are appended.

A prototypical glycoalkaloid is solanine (composed of the sugar solanose and the alkaloid solanidine), which is found in the potato.

Glycoalkaloids are typically bitter tasting, and produce a burning irritation in the back of the mouth and side of the tongue.

The Aymara people of Bolivia use taste to detect the levels of glycoalkaloids in potatoes to determine the safety of various cultigens.

[2] Sale of a glycoalkaloid-based treatment marketed by Lane Labs USA Inc. for prevention of skin cancer was banned by the FDA in 2004 as an unapproved drug.