Hydroxyl and Superoxide Anion Radicals Scavenging Activities of Water-Soluble Chitosan (WSC)

VANDEN BRABER, NOELIA; VAZQUEZ, MARÍA EMILIA; MONTENEGRO, MARIANA

Buenos Aires

Congreso; VIII Meeting of the Society for Free Radical Biology and Medicine-South American Group; 2013

Chitosan is a nontoxic biopolymer produced by the deacetylation of chitin, a major component of the shells of crustaceans. The biological activities of Chitosan include hypocholesterolemic, antimicrobial, immunostimulating, anticancer effect, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. This biomolecule contains three types of reactive functional groups, an amino/acetamido group and both primary and secondary hydroxyl groups at the C-2, C-3 and C-6 positions, respectively. Chitosan is only soluble in the acid pH range. Hence, improving its solubility is crucial if it is to be utilized across a wide pH range. WSC, produced through Maillard reaction with glucosamine, is a feasible way to increase solubility, because glucosamine, like Chitosan, possesses active amino and hydroxyl groups. Free radicals, ?OH and O2? −, were generated through Fenton reaction at pH 7.4 and hydroxylamine hydrochloride autoxidation at pH 8, respectively. Via hydrogen transmission mechanisms, the OH or NH2 groups act as centers of radical scavenging behaviour. WSC presents a ?OH scavenging activity of 54 % in regard to chitosan. This effect could depend on the deacetylation degree change. WSC scavenges O2? − 1.3 times more than chitosan, which is mainly influenced by concentration. Finally, biomolecule solubility is increased and antioxidant activity is preserved.