pentosan

[ pen-tuh-san ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. any of a class of polysaccharides that occur in plants, humus, etc., and form pentoses upon hydrolysis.

pentosan

/ ˈpɛntəˌsæn /

noun

1. biochem any of a group of polysaccharides, having the general formula (C 5 H 8 O 4 ) n : occur in plants, humus, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of pentosan¹

< German (1892), equivalent to Pentos ( e ) pentose + -an -ane

Word History and Origins

Origin of pentosan¹

C20: from pentose + -an

Example Sentences

After a court battle, the family won the right to use the experimental drug pentosan polysulphate in January 2003.

From BBC

The lignin material generally consists of two types of substances, one of which contains a closed-ring nucleus of unknown composition and the other is probably a pentosan.

From Project Gutenberg