The enzyme vicianin β-glucosidase () characterised from Prunus serotina catalyzes the following chemical reaction:
The reaction hydrolyses the cyanogenic glycoside, vicianin, to (+)-mandelonitrile and vicianose. The enzyme has also been found in Davallia trichomanoides. A similar enzyme has been found in Vicia angustifolia.
The enzyme is a hydrolase, specifically a glycosidase that hydrolyses O- and S-glycosyl compounds. The systematic name is (R)-vicianin β-D-glucohydrolase. It is also called vicianin hydrolase.
References