부분적으로 N-아세틸화된 키토산과 그 올리고당의 생리활성

Biological Activities of Partially N-Acetylated Chitosans and Their Oligosaccharides

Chitosan is a partially deacetylated polymer of N-acetyl glucosamine, which is obtained after alkaline deacetylation of chitin derived from exoskeletons of crustaceans and arthropods. It has various bioactive properties such as a hypocholesterolemic effect, an immunomodulative function and a hypoglycemic effect. Recent studies on chitosan have attracted interest in converting from chitosan to its oligomers because oligomers are not only water-soluble but also posses versatile functional properties such as antifungal activity, antimicrobial activity antitumor activity, immuno-stimulating activity, and enhancing protective effects against infections associated with some pathogens. Various bioactive properties of chitosan and its oligomers might depend on their degrees of deacetylation and molecular sizes of its oligomers. However, there is little information available on bioactive properties based on both degrees of deacetylation and their molecular sizes. The sulfated polysaccharides have generally shown the bioactive properties for anticoagulant, antithrombotic, antiatherosclerotic, antiproliferative, antiadhesive, antiangiotenetic, antimetastatic, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral effects. The purposes of this study, therefore, are to aim the preparation for various types of chitosans with different degrees of deacetylation and their oligomers. In the present study, we have investigated their biological activities such as antimicrobial, free radical scavenging, angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory, and so on.