Chemicals and Drugs

Sorbitol

A polyhydric alcohol with about half the sweetness of sucrose. Sorbitol occurs naturally and is also produced synthetically from glucose. It was formerly used as a diuretic and may still be used as a laxative and in irrigating solutions for some surgical procedures. It is also used in many manufacturing processes, as a pharmaceutical aid, and in several research applications.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A polyhydric alcohol with about half the sweetness of sucrose. Sorbitol occurs naturally and is also produced synthetically from glucose. It was formerly used as a diuretic and may still be used as a laxative and in irrigating solutions for some surgical procedures. It is also used in many manufacturing processes, as a pharmaceutical aid, and in several research applications.

Chemical Identity

Chemical Information

Molecular Formula
C6H14O6
Molecular Weight
182.17 g/mol
CAS Registry No.
50-70-4
IUPAC Name
(2R,3R,4R,5S)-hexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexol
InChIKey
FBPFZTCFMRRESA-JGWLITMVSA-N
SMILES
C([C@H]([C@H]([C@@H]([C@H](CO)O)O)O)O)O
MeSH Unique ID
D013012
Source
PubChem CID 5780

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Narrower headings

Related Concepts

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Drug Class

Pharmacological Action

MeSH Record

Synonyms

5 entry terms
  • Glucitol
  • Medevac
  • Sorbilax
  • Yal
  • klysma Sorbit

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

25 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analogs & derivatives, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, economics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, urine.

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Sorbitol. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D013012. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D013012
  2. Sorbitol. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorbitol
  3. Sorbitol. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q245280
  4. Sorbitol. In: PubChem Compound. CID 5780. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5780