Fructosides

Sucrose is a disaccharide, a sugar composed of glucose and fructose subunits. It is produced naturally in plants and is the main constituent of white sugar. It has the molecular formula .

Inulins are a group of naturally occurring polysaccharides produced by many types of plants, industrially most often extracted from chicory. Inulin is used by some plants as a means of storing energy and is typically found in roots or rhizomes. Most plants that synthesize and store inulin do not store other forms of carbohydrate such as starch.

thumb|class=skin-invert-image|right|250px|Structural formula of inulins, linear fructans with a terminal α-D-glucose with 1→2 linkage A fructan is a polymer of fructose molecules. Fructans with a short chain length are known as fructooligosaccharides. Fructans can be found in over 12% of the angiosperms including both monocots and dicots such as agave, artichokes, asparagus, leeks, garlic, onions (including spring onions), yacón, jícama, barley and wheat.

polymer of fructose forming a non-structural carbohydrate

thumb|250x250px|Sucrose, a common fructoside where glucose is bonded to fructose Fructosides are glycosides that contain fructose. They are abundant in living organisms, food, and the environment. This makes them a particular interest in pharmacology and food science. C1 of fructose may be bonded to any organic moiety, forming a fructoside. The configuration of the fructoside can be denoted as an α-fructosidase or β-fructosidase depending on whether the organic moiety is bonded below or above the plane of fructose, respectively. The naming of fructoside-related enzymes also follows this nomenc