title: Chitosan as potential marine nutraceutical.
abstract: Chitosan, the most abundant marine mucopolysaccharide, is derived from chitin by alkaline deacetylation, and possesses versatile biological properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and a non-toxic nature. Due to these characteristics, considerable attention has been given to its industrial applications in the food, pharmaceutical, agricultural, and environmental industries. Currently, chitosan can be considered as a potential marine nutraceutical because its remarkable biological activities have been investigated and reported, in order to exploit its nutraceutical properties. This chapter, therefore, reviews the biological activities of chitosan including antioxidant, hypocholesterolemic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities, as well as its mode of action in each activity.
authors.affiliation: School of Food Technology and Nutrition, Chonnam National University, Yeosu, Republic of Korea. jjy1915@jnu.ac.kr
authors.forename: Jae-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Je
authors.forename: Se-Kwon
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000737:chemistry*; D002686:Chitin / Q000737:chemistry; D048271:Chitosan / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003445:Crustacea / Q000737:chemistry; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D002686:Chitin; D048271:Chitosan