3.7 Applications
57
2013). Acne therapy takes the approach of eradicating the bacteria which results in
the inflammation seen as acne spots and also preventing the formation of inflammatory cytokines by the immune cells in the skin which results in the formation
of acne on the skin surface. Chitosan with its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory
property therefore is an attractive drug candidate in such therapy. Similar chitosan
has demonstrated anti-inflammatory effect on other inflammatory diseases such as
inflammatory bowel disease (Friedman et al. 2013).
3.7.8 Antioxidant
The antioxidant activity of the deacetylated form of chitin, chitosan, is attributed to
the presence of hydroxyl groups and amino groups which are available to react with
free radicals. This antioxidant property of chitosan has been demonstrated. Chitosan
extracted from crab shells achieves up to 70% antioxidant activity at a concentration
of 1 mg/ml (Yen et al. 2009).
For applicability, compounds used in pharmaceutical or food need to be water
soluble. Chitosan solubility can be improved by reducing the chain size to oligosaccharides or dimers, converting to derivatives such as carboxymethyl cellulose or chitosan salts. The antioxidant properties of chitosan have been shown to improve when
formed into salts such as chitosan acetate (Charernsriwilaiwat et al. 2012). Even high
molecular weight-based chitosan films show antioxidant properties, particularly quaternized high molecular weight chitosan such as N-(2-hydroxyl)propyl-3-trimethyl
ammonium chitosan chloride with molecular weights of 400 and 1240 (Wan et al.
2013). Retaining the high molecular weight as well as the antioxidant property makes
it applicable to chitosan-based antioxidant material in food and pharmaceutics with
good mechanical properties.
3.7.9 Antimalaria
Recently, deacetylated chitin (chitosan) from crab shells combined with silver
nanoparticles has demonstrated antimalarial properties. When chitosan combined
with silver nanoparticles were spread on a water reservoir, this treatment was effective in eradicating mosquito larvae and pupa (Murugan et al. 2017). The formulation
tested non-toxic to fish and also had antibacterial effect. The antimalaria effect therefore comes from the ability to hinder the growth of mosquitos. Furthermore, the silver
nanoparticles could be produced using plant extract and this has been explored by
several researchers. It is therefore also worth exploring the extent of chitin application
in its crude form since this requires less use of chemicals and has less environmental
impact.
57
2013). Acne therapy takes the approach of eradicating the bacteria which results in
the inflammation seen as acne spots and also preventing the formation of inflammatory cytokines by the immune cells in the skin which results in the formation
of acne on the skin surface. Chitosan with its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory
property therefore is an attractive drug candidate in such therapy. Similar chitosan
has demonstrated anti-inflammatory effect on other inflammatory diseases such as
inflammatory bowel disease (Friedman et al. 2013).
3.7.8 Antioxidant
The antioxidant activity of the deacetylated form of chitin, chitosan, is attributed to
the presence of hydroxyl groups and amino groups which are available to react with
free radicals. This antioxidant property of chitosan has been demonstrated. Chitosan
extracted from crab shells achieves up to 70% antioxidant activity at a concentration
of 1 mg/ml (Yen et al. 2009).
For applicability, compounds used in pharmaceutical or food need to be water
soluble. Chitosan solubility can be improved by reducing the chain size to oligosaccharides or dimers, converting to derivatives such as carboxymethyl cellulose or chitosan salts. The antioxidant properties of chitosan have been shown to improve when
formed into salts such as chitosan acetate (Charernsriwilaiwat et al. 2012). Even high
molecular weight-based chitosan films show antioxidant properties, particularly quaternized high molecular weight chitosan such as N-(2-hydroxyl)propyl-3-trimethyl
ammonium chitosan chloride with molecular weights of 400 and 1240 (Wan et al.
2013). Retaining the high molecular weight as well as the antioxidant property makes
it applicable to chitosan-based antioxidant material in food and pharmaceutics with
good mechanical properties.
3.7.9 Antimalaria
Recently, deacetylated chitin (chitosan) from crab shells combined with silver
nanoparticles has demonstrated antimalarial properties. When chitosan combined
with silver nanoparticles were spread on a water reservoir, this treatment was effective in eradicating mosquito larvae and pupa (Murugan et al. 2017). The formulation
tested non-toxic to fish and also had antibacterial effect. The antimalaria effect therefore comes from the ability to hinder the growth of mosquitos. Furthermore, the silver
nanoparticles could be produced using plant extract and this has been explored by
several researchers. It is therefore also worth exploring the extent of chitin application
in its crude form since this requires less use of chemicals and has less environmental
impact.