The carbohydrates of tender kernel of palmyrah palm (Borassus fabelliferl).

The tender kernels of palmyra palm (Borass~s &bellifer)which grows
abundantly in various parts of India are soft, (jellylike), sweet, and are
relished by the inhahitants (1) who claim that the kernels serve to quench
thirst) and to cool t’he human system. The approximate composition of
tender kernels has been studied by a number of workers (2-4). Mitra
and Mitra (2) reportSed that, the kernel contains moisture 02.6 %, protein
0.46 %, fat 0.1 %, and carbohydrates (by difference) 6.29 %. Ko precise
information is a,vailable about the nature of the carbohydrates even
t,hough it forms a major portion of the kernel solids. This paper deals
with the nature of free sugars and of the polysaccharides present in the
kernel. The major polysaccharide has heen shown to be a galactomannan
and the presence of a mannose-cellulose type of polysaccharide is also
indicated.