Carbohydrates (sugars) are the most abundant organic molecules in nature. Sugars having reducing property react with phenylhydrazine hydrochloride to form characteristic osazones (crystals). These osazones can be correlated with clinical conditions like arabinose in autism, xylose in small bowel disease and galactose in galactosemia. The study aimed to evaluate utility of osazone test to identify sugars by demonstrating characteristic osazone. Study was conducted at Biochemistry department, Shri M P Shah Govt. Medical College, Jamnagar, Gujarat. We selected sugars like glucose, fructose, mannose, galactose, lactose, maltose, arabinose and xylose to demonstrate their osazone. All sugars were made available commercially. 2 grams% stock solution prepared of each sugars. Osazone test is performed for each sugar in the boiling water bath and noted down the time for appearing of crystals. Then the shape of osazone of each sugar was examined under microscope. We observed that crystals were appeared at specific interval of time during boiling and cooling slowly after boiling. We found characteristic shape of osazone of sugars under microscope. Glucose, fructose, galactose and mannose formed needle shape osazone. Maltose formed sun flower shape osazone. Lactose formed cotton-ball shape osazone. Arabinose formed dense ball needle shape osazone. Xylose formed fine but long needle shape osazone.The study demonstrated characteristic shape of osazone of sugars by performing osazone test. This simple, cheap and less time consuming test can be used to identify and differentiate sugars encountered in clinical practice.

Keywords: Carbohydrates, phenylhydrazine, osazone.

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