Mannose and Xylose

Written on June 8, 2009 No Comment

Monosaccharides

Essential Monosaccharides

Page 3 of 5

Page 1: The Eight Essential Monosaccharides
Page 2: Glucose and Galactose
Page 3: Mannose and Xylose
Page 4: N-Acetyl Glucosamine and N-Acetyl Galactosamine
Page 5: Fucose and N-Acetyl Neuraminic Acid

Mannose

Mannose is present in aloe vera^[1] and brown algae^[2] in great concentrations. It has been suggested as the active ingredient in aloe vera that helps with recovery from cuts and burns.^[3] Besides Aloe Vera, mannose can be found in gum ghatti and shiitake mushrooms.

Xylose

Xylose can be found in astragalus (shrub that belongs to legume family Fabaceae) and gum ghatti. This glyconutrient is used to test for malabsorption. It is given to a patient in water after fasting. If Xylose is detected in blood and/or urine in the following hours then it has been absorbed in the intestine and absorption is as it should be.^[4] Xylose can be biosynthesized from glucose.^[5]

Page 2: Glucose and Galactose

Page 4: N-Acetyl Glucosamine and
N-Acetyl Galactosamine

References:

[1] Liu C. “Macrophage Activation by Polysaccharide Biological Response Modifier Isolated from Aloe Vera L. var. Chinensis (Haw.) Berg.” Int Immunopharmacol. November 2006;6(11):1634-41. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16979117?ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum. Accessed August 12, 2008.

[2] Zhu, Wen. “Isolation and Characterization of a Sulfated Polysaccharide from the Brown Alga Sargassum Patens and Determination of its Anti-Herpes Activity.” Biochem. Cell Biol. (2003);81(1):2533. Available at: http://rparticle.web-p.cisti.nrc.ca/rparticle/AbstractTemplateServlet?journal=bcb&volume=81&year=&issue=&msno=o02-169&calyLang=eng. Accessed August 12, 2008.

[3] Lele, Satish. “Aloe Vera Gel.” Available at: http://www.svlele.com/aloevera_prop.htm. Accessed August 12, 2008.

[4] WebMD. “D-xylose Absorption Test.” Available at:
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/9197.

Accessed August 11, 2008.

[5] McMurry, John. Organic Chemistry. 7e. Belmont, CA: Thompson Higher Education, 2008.