title: Pyridine-grafted chitosan derivative as an antifungal agent.
abstract: Pyridine moieties were introduced into chitosan by nucleophilic substitution to afford N-(1-carboxybutyl-4-pyridinium) chitosan chloride (pyridine chitosan). The resulting chitosan derivative was well characterized, and its antifungal activity was examined, based on the inhibition of mycelial growth and spore germination. The results indicated that pyridine chitosan exhibited enhanced antifungal activity by comparison with pristine chitosan. The values of the minimum inhibitory concentration and the minimal fungicidal concentration of pyridine chitosan against Fulvia fulva were 0.13 mg/ml and 1 mg/ml, respectively, while the corresponding values against Botrytis cinerea were 0.13 mg/ml and 4 mg/ml, respectively. Severe morphological changes of pyridine chitosan-treated B. cinerea were observed, indicative that pyridine chitosan could damage and deform the structure of fungal hyphae and subsequently inhibit strain growth. Non-toxicity of pyridine chitosan was demonstrated by an acute toxicity study. These results are beneficial for assessing the potential utilization of this chitosan derivative and for exploring new functional antifungal agents with chitosan in the food industry.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Fruits and Vegetables Postharvest and Processing Technology Research of Zhejiang Province, College of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China.
authors.forename: Ruixiu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Fruits and Vegetables Postharvest and Processing Technology Research of Zhejiang Province, College of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China.
authors.forename: Yunfei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Fruits and Vegetables Postharvest and Processing Technology Research of Zhejiang Province, College of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Fruits and Vegetables Postharvest and Processing Technology Research of Zhejiang Province, College of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiangyang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Fruits and Vegetables Postharvest and Processing Technology Research of Zhejiang Province, College of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China. Electronic address: huangjy@zjgsu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jianying
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D020171:Botrytis / Q000187:drug effects; D048271:Chitosan / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D025282:Mycelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D011725:Pyridines / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005659:Fungicides, Industrial; D011725:Pyridines; D048271:Chitosan; C023666:pyridine
keywords: Acute toxicity; Antifungal activity; Chitosan; Modification; SEM