Xilose  is a polysaccharide carbohydrate found in the plant kingdom widely distributed in hardwood trees such as cherry and maple, and in corncobs, straw and cottonseed.

Synthesised it appears in the form of a white powder

What it is used for and where

Food

Xylose extracts Xylitol, which has a sweetening power 40% higher than sucrose.

It is used as a sugar substitute in the diet of people with diabetes.

Cosmetics

Flavoring agent. The purpose of this ingredient is to modify the solution to add flavour. Natural flavouring extracts are rather expensive, so the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries resort to synthesised substances that have sensory characteristics mostly similar to natural flavourings or are naturally equivalent. This ingredient is isolated through chemical processes or is synthesised from chemicals.

Fragrance. It plays a very important role in the formulation of cosmetic products as it allows perfume to be enhanced, masked or added to the final product, improving its commercial viability.  The consumer always expects to find a pleasant scent in a cosmetic product.

Skin conditioning agent -  Humectant. Humectants are hygroscopic substances used to minimise water loss in the skin and to prevent it from drying out by facilitating faster and greater absorption of water into the stratum corneum of the epidermis. The epidermis is the most superficial of the three layers that make up the human skin (epidermis, dermis and hypodermis) and is the layer that maintains hydration in all three layers. In turn, the epidermis is composed of five layers: corneum, the most superficial, lucidum, granulosum, spinosum and basale. Humectants have the ability to retain in the stratum corneum the water they attract from the air and have the function of moisturising the skin. It is better to use them before emollients that are oil-based.

Xylose studies

Molecular Formula: C₅H₁₀O5

Molecular Weight: 150.13 g/mol

CAS: 50855-32-8  58-86-6

PubChem Substance ID 329751518

MDL number MFCD00064360

Beilstein Registry Number 1562108

Synonyms:

• D Xylose
• D-xylopyranose
• D-Xylose
• xylopyranose