Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A polysaccharide with the general formula (C6H10O5)n that is found in the roots of various composite plants and yields fructose when hydrolyzed.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A vegetable principle (C6H10O5) which is spontaneously deposited from a decoction of the roots of Inula Helenium and certain other plants.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Chem.) A substance of very wide occurrence. It is found dissolved in the sap of the roots and rhizomes of many composite and other plants, as Inula, Helianthus, Campanula, etc., and is extracted by solution as a tasteless, white, semicrystalline substance, resembling starch, with which it is isomeric, having fructose units in place of most of the glucose units. It is intermediate in nature between starch and sugar, and replaces starch as the reserve food in Compositae. Called also dahlin, helenin, alantin, alant starch, etc.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun biochemistry a polysaccharide found in the roots and tubers of certain plants, especially the Compositae; it is mostly a polymer of fructose

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun used to manufacture fructose and in assessing kidney function

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[New Latin Inula, plant genus (from Latin inula, elecampane, from Greek helenion; see elecampane) + –in.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Inula +‎ -in

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Examples

  • The root has a complex carbohydrate called inulin, which is made up of fructose molecules.

    Dr. Joseph Mercola: This Sweetener Is Far Worse Than High Fructose Corn Syrup 2010

  • The root has a complex carbohydrate called inulin, which is made up of fructose molecules.

    This Sweetener Is Far Worse Than High Fructose Corn Syrup Dr. Joseph Mercola 2010

  • In the large intestine, inulin is broken down by beneficial bacterial through fermentation to yield short chain fatty acids.

    The Other Indigestible Carbs Steve Carper 2007

  • In the large intestine, inulin is broken down by beneficial bacterial through fermentation to yield short chain fatty acids.

    Archive 2007-04-01 Steve Carper 2007

  • Also curious about the artichoke is a fact that most sites featuring information about the vegetable throw up: it's high in a carbohydrate called inulin, which is linked with excessive flatulence in some people.

    Squash and Jerusalem Artichoke: A Winter Salad Annemarie 2008

  • Also curious about the artichoke is a fact that most sites featuring information about the vegetable throw up: it's high in a carbohydrate called inulin, which is linked with excessive flatulence in some people.

    Archive 2008-01-01 Annemarie 2008

  • Asparagus contains the healthy polysaccharide, inulin, which is called a prebiotic because it nourishes the probiotic bacteria which keeps the bad bacteria out of your intestines, and possibly enhances your libido.

    Nena Niessen: Cures from the Kitchen Nena Niessen 2010

  • Oligofructose is a subgroup of inulin, which is a type of fiber.

    The Fiber35 Diet Brenda Watson with Leonard Smith 2007

  • Oligofructose is a subgroup of inulin, which is a type of fiber.

    The Fiber35 Diet Brenda Watson with Leonard Smith 2007

  • The agave stores its energy in the sugar fructose and the long fructose chains called inulin p.

    On Food and Cooking, The Science and Lore of the Kitchen Harold McGee 2004

  • John Cryan, Ted Dinan and their colleagues fed middle-aged mice a diet enriched with a prebiotic called inulin, a dietary fibre that increased levels of good bacteria including Akkermansia.

    Secrets of a long and healthy life reside in your gut microbiome #author.fullName} 2022

Comments

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  • probiotic or prebiotic?

    November 16, 2010