The basic physical and chemical properties of glycosides are dependent on the nature of the aglycone and sugar–nonsugar linkage. Some general properties are:

1. Glycosides are crystalline or amorphous nonvolatile substances that are soluble in water and dilute alcohol. They are insoluble in organic solvents like chloroform and ether.
2. The aglycone moiety is soluble in nonpolar solvents like benzene, ether, etc.
3. They are easily hydrolyzed by water, mineral acids, and enzymes.
4. They are optically active and normally laevorotatory.
5. Glycosides do not reduce Fehling’s solution until they are hydrolyzed.
6. Some glycosides occur in one part of the plant while a hydrolytic enzyme occurs in another. Tissue injury, germination, or other physiological activity of the plant brings them in contact with each other, resulting in hydrolysis of the glycoside. A large number of such enzymes are found in plants.
7. Therapeutic property of a glycoside is dictated by the aglycone part. The sugar facilitates absorption of glycoside and helps in transportation of the aglycone portion to the site of action.