- Important bio-molecule’s .
- Are the main source of energy
- Required for metabolic activities.
- Plants are about 30 times richer in carbohydrates than in animals.
- Also known as saccharides because of many of carbohydrates of small molecular weight have sweet taste.
The latest definition is,
“ Carbohydrates are polyhydroxy aldehydes and ketones and their derivatives or the substance that generate them on hydrolysis.”
Types of Carbohydrates
- Monosaccharide
- Disaccharide
- Oligosaccharide
- Polysaccharide
Monosaccharide
- Cannot be hydrolyzed into smaller units.
- Simplest of the carbohydrate
- Subunit form which disaccharides, oligosaccharide and polysaccharides are constructed.
- Two types
- Depending upon the carbon atom present
- On the basic of functional group present
Disaccharide
- Consist of two mono saccharides unit joined together by covalent bond.
- Present O – glycosidic bond .
- Such as maltose , sucrose , lactose etc. are medically important.