6.3.8 Pharmaceutical uses of monosaccharides
Pharmaceutically, glucose is probably the most important of all regular
monosaccharides. A solution of pure glucose has been recommended for use
by subcutaneous injection as a restorative after severe operations, or as a
nutritive in wasting diseases. It has also been used to augment the movements of the uterus. Glucose is added to nutritive enemata for rectal
alimentation. Its use has also been recommended for rectal injection and
by mouth in delayed chloroform poisoning.
Glucose is used as a pharmaceutical additive. Liquid glucose is used
mainly as a pill or tablet additive. For coloured pills many dispensers prefer
a mixture of equal weights of extract of gentian and liquid glucose. Liquid
glucose is particularly suitable for the preparation of pills containing ferrous
carbonate. It preserves the ferrous salt from oxidation, and will even reduce
any ferric salt present. Conversely, it should not be used where such
reduction is to be avoided, as in the preparation of pills containing cupric
salts. Apart from the pharmaceutical or medicinal uses, glucose is also used
in large quantities in the food and confectionery industries, often in the form
of thick syrup.
Fructose, another common monosaccharide found in fruits and honey, is more
soluble in water than glucose and is also sweeter than glucose. It is used as a
sweetener for diabetic patients, and in infusion for parenteral nutrition.
6.3.9 Disaccharides
Disaccharides contain a glycosidic acetal bond between the anomeric carbon
of one sugar and an –OH group at any position on the other sugar. A glycosidic
bond between C-1 of the first sugar and the –OH at C-4 of the second sugar is
particularly common. Such a bond is called a 1,4
0 -link, for example maltose,
where two glucose units are linked between C-1 and C-4 via oxygen. A
glycosidic bond to the anomeric carbon can be either a or b.
The most common naturally occurring disaccharides are sucrose (table
sugar) and lactose (milk sugar). While sucrose is derived from plants and is
prepared commercially from sugar cane and sugar beet, lactose is found in
the milk of animals. Other common disaccharides that are produced by
breaking down polysaccharides include maltose (obtained from starch) and
cellobiose (obtained from cellulose).
Maltose and cellobiose
Maltose is a disaccharide, composed of two units of glucose linked
(a linkage) between C-1 of one and C-4 of the other via oxygen.
6.3 CARBOHYDRATES
311
Pharmaceutically, glucose is probably the most important of all regular
monosaccharides. A solution of pure glucose has been recommended for use
by subcutaneous injection as a restorative after severe operations, or as a
nutritive in wasting diseases. It has also been used to augment the movements of the uterus. Glucose is added to nutritive enemata for rectal
alimentation. Its use has also been recommended for rectal injection and
by mouth in delayed chloroform poisoning.
Glucose is used as a pharmaceutical additive. Liquid glucose is used
mainly as a pill or tablet additive. For coloured pills many dispensers prefer
a mixture of equal weights of extract of gentian and liquid glucose. Liquid
glucose is particularly suitable for the preparation of pills containing ferrous
carbonate. It preserves the ferrous salt from oxidation, and will even reduce
any ferric salt present. Conversely, it should not be used where such
reduction is to be avoided, as in the preparation of pills containing cupric
salts. Apart from the pharmaceutical or medicinal uses, glucose is also used
in large quantities in the food and confectionery industries, often in the form
of thick syrup.
Fructose, another common monosaccharide found in fruits and honey, is more
soluble in water than glucose and is also sweeter than glucose. It is used as a
sweetener for diabetic patients, and in infusion for parenteral nutrition.
6.3.9 Disaccharides
Disaccharides contain a glycosidic acetal bond between the anomeric carbon
of one sugar and an –OH group at any position on the other sugar. A glycosidic
bond between C-1 of the first sugar and the –OH at C-4 of the second sugar is
particularly common. Such a bond is called a 1,4
0 -link, for example maltose,
where two glucose units are linked between C-1 and C-4 via oxygen. A
glycosidic bond to the anomeric carbon can be either a or b.
The most common naturally occurring disaccharides are sucrose (table
sugar) and lactose (milk sugar). While sucrose is derived from plants and is
prepared commercially from sugar cane and sugar beet, lactose is found in
the milk of animals. Other common disaccharides that are produced by
breaking down polysaccharides include maltose (obtained from starch) and
cellobiose (obtained from cellulose).
Maltose and cellobiose
Maltose is a disaccharide, composed of two units of glucose linked
(a linkage) between C-1 of one and C-4 of the other via oxygen.
6.3 CARBOHYDRATES
311