Definition

Noun: 1. A pentose sugar: A type of simple sugar (monosaccharide) containing five carbon atoms, with the chemical formula C₅H₁₀O₅. 2. A sugar derived from plant material: A sugar naturally found in and commercially extracted from woody substances such as wood, straw, or corncobs.

Usage

• Xylose is primarily discussed in scientific, nutritional, and industrial contexts.
• It is often mentioned in relation to food science, biochemistry, and dietary products.

Examples

• Scientific Context:
  • Xylose is an aldopentose found in the hemicellulose of many plants.
  • The laboratory test measures the absorption of xylose to assess intestinal function.
• Food/Industrial Context:
  • As a low-calorie sweetener, xylose is used in some foods for diabetics.
  • The compound can be fermented to produce xylitol, another common sugar alcohol.

Advanced Usage

• "D-xylose": This specifies the most common natural form (stereoisomer) of xylose. It is often used in medical testing.
  • The D-xylose absorption test helps diagnose malabsorption syndromes.

Variants and Related Words

• Wood sugar: A common alternative name for xylose, referring directly to its source.
• Pentose: The broader category of five-carbon sugars to which xylose belongs. Ribose is another example of a pentose.

Synonyms

• Wood sugar

Notes on Meaning

• While xylose itself is a sugar, it is not as sweet as sucrose (table sugar) and has different metabolic properties, which is why it is of interest for diabetic foods.
• It is distinct from xylitol, which is a sugar alcohol derived from xylose through a chemical reduction process.

Noun

1. a sugar extracted from wood or straw; used in foods for diabetics