MOLECULE

Sorbitol

Sorbitol, also known as D-glucitol or L-gulitol, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as sugar alcohols. These are hydrogenated forms of sugars in which the carbonyl group (aldehyde or ketone from the reducing sugar) has been reduced to a primary or secondary hydroxyl group. Sorbitol is a polyhydric alcohol with about half the sweetness of sucrose. Sorbitol occurs naturally in many plants and plant products and is also produced synthetically from glucose. As an industrial chemical, sorbitol is used in the manufacturing of sorbose, propylene glycol and ascorbic acid. It is also used as a plasticizer and stabilizer for vinyl resins, urethane resins and for other rigid foams. Sorbitol also has some pharmaceutical utility. It was formerly used as a diuretic and may still be used as a laxative and in irrigating solutions for some surgical procedures. Sorbitol is also used as a pharmaceutical or cosmetic aid. Sorbitol is used in solution form for moisture-conditioning of cosmetic creams and lotions, toothpaste, gelatins and liquid pharmaceuticals. As a food additive sorbitol functions as a sweetener, humectant, emulsifier, thickener and anticaking agent. Sorbitol is also used as a softener for candy as it acts as a sugar crystallization inhibitor (Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary). As a research chemical, sorbitol is used in photometric determination of Ru (VI) and Ru(VIII) and in acid-base titration of borate (Dictionary of Organic Compounds). Sorbitol occurs widely in nature and is found in simple plants such as algae to higher order plants. Fruits of the plant family Rosacea, which include apples, pears, cherries, apricots, contain appreciable amounts of sorbitol. Particularly rich sources of sorbitol are the fruits of the Sorbus and Crataegus species.