The Present State of the Problem of Lignin–Carbohydrate Bonds in Plant Tissues

The studies of the last 10–15 years showed that chemical and hydrogen bonds between lignin and carbohydrates and also three-dimensional network structures of lignin immobilising the carbohydrate chains are involved in the formation of a single set of components of the plant cell wall. This review presents data demonstrating the presence of the most likely types of lignin–carbohydrate bonds: ester, ether, acetal, and phenol–glycoside. However, the problems concerning the type, nature, and number of lignin–carbohydrate bonds still remain open. The possible inhomogeneity of the lignin in plant tissues complicates further the solution of these problems.
The bibliography includes 143 references.