inositol
nounUK /ʌɪˈnəʊ.sɪ.tɒl/ · US /ɪˈnoʊ.səˌtɒl/
Etymology From its former name inosite + -ol (“an alcohol”), from Ancient Greek ἰνός (inós, genitive singular of ἴς (ís, “sinew, tendon”)) + -ite.
1
Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Natural sciences, Physical sciences A simple carbocyclic sugar (hexahydroxycyclohexane; chemical formula: C₆H₁₂O₆) which occurs in animal and plant tissue. Once treated as part of the vitamin B complex, but is not a vitamin as it can be synthesized by the body.
- Derived terms
- glycerophosphoinositol, glycoinositol, inositide, inositol hexaphosphate, inositol pentakisphosphate, inositolphospholipid, inositol triphosphate, inositol triphosphate receptor, myoinositol, myo-inositol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphoinositol