Low molecular weight carbohydrates from rapeseed (Brassica campestris) meal

Ten low molecular weight carbohydrates from the deionised 80% ethanol‐soluble fraction of rapeseed meal were characterised either in the crystalline form or by the isolation of crystalline derivatives. The average percentage composition of these components in the oligosaccharide fraction (48%) of the deionised 80% ethanol‐soluble solids as determined by g.l.c. was: D ‐fructose, 1.52; D ‐glucose, 2.8; D ‐galactose, traces; myo ‐inositol, 0.31; sucrose, 22.65; galactinol, 0.39; raffinose, 3.23; stachyose, 15.21; digalactosyl‐glycerol 0.97; and digalactosylinositol, traces.