GLUCOSE IN FRUIT

FRUCTOSE (LEVELOSE, FRUIT SUGAR):

Fructose occurs in the free state along with glucose in many fruits (2-5%) and honey(30-40%). Fructose is readily utilized by the body as a source of energy. Recent investigations have sown that fructose is better utilize as a source of energy by diabetic patients then glucose. It is as sweet as glucose. Fructose on reduction yields a mixture of sorbitol and mannitol.

n Glucose:

It does not occur in the free step but is widely distributed in the combined state. Lactose the sugar present in milk is a compound of glucose and galactose. It also occurs in cerebrosides present in the brain and nurves tissues and hence its nutritional importance. Galactose on reduction yields the alcohol, duleitol.

D (+) mannose:

This does not occur free in nature. It is found in the form of a polysaecharide, mannan occurring in ivory nuts. i.e. the seeds of tagua, palm, phytelephas macrocarpa  and in east polysaecharides. Mannaoc is a constituent of prosthetic polysaecharides of albumin, globulins and mucoids and also of the prosthetic polysaecharide of tubercle bacilli. Mannose on reduction gives mannitol.