mannan Chem.
(ˈmænæn)
[f. mannose + -an, after glucosan.]
Any of a group of polysaccharides that are composed chiefly of mannose residues and occur widely in plants, esp. as reserve foods.
| 1895 Jrnl. Chem. Soc. LXVIII. ii. 128 (heading) Mannan as a reserve material in the seeds of Diospyros Kaki. 1931 [see fructosan]. 1965 New Scientist 6 May 381/1 The cell-walls of the [coffee] bean consist of a mannan which is an insoluble polysaccharide..and protein. |