Naturally occurring cyclopentenoid sides are hydrolyzed enzymatically to chiral, cyclopentene-l-ones, of potential interest as _. cyanohydrin glucohydroxylated 2 synthetic intermediates. Two novel cyclopentenoid cyanohydrin glucosides, taraktophyllin and epivolkenin [respectively (1\$4S)- and (lS,4R)- 1-(8-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-4-hydroxy-2-cyclopentene-l-carbonitrileJ were isolated from Taraktoqenos heterophylla and Hyanocarpus anthelmintica (Flacourtiaceae), the structures being assigned on the basis of spectroscopic and optical rotation (the Brewster rules) data.