Stachyose hydrate

54261-98-2;
α-D-Gal-(1→6)-α-D-Gal-(1→6)-α-D-Glc-(1→2)-β-D-Fru

Stachyose is a naturally occurring tetrasaccharide found in various plants, especially legumes. Its structure consists of two galactose units, one glucose unit, and one fructose unit. The term "hydrate" indicates that the compound exists in a hydrated form, with an unspecified number of water molecules associated with each stachyose molecule. As a non-digestible oligosaccharide, stachyose acts as a prebiotic, promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria.