The first six elements of life - chitin

What is chitin
Chitin is chitin and chitosan (several butylamine sugar), collectively known. Chitin (chitin) and chitosan (chitosan) is a natural non-toxic polymer, and has biological decomposition, its structure similar to cellulose, from 1000-3000-N-B glucose amine (N -- Acetyl 2 - Amino -2 Deoxy-d-D = Glucose or n-Acetyl-d-Glucosamine) monomer to B-1, 4 bond posed by the direct chain carbohydrate polymer. Non-toxic organisms and can be decomposed, with biological activity, be regarded as the most potential biological polymer.
     In the nature of chitin content on the planet is the most abundant amino sugar type of polysaccharide, second only to cellulose content; It exists primarily on aquatic insects and of crustaceans and other animals without spinal cone shell, and fungi Type of cell wall, its organisms in the role played by the main body is used as a framework and protection. Chitosan is chitin to ethyl-product standards, usually chitin to acetylation of the extent of 70 percent or more can be dissolved in acid into the sugar product of several agmatine.

21 fields of medicine and new materials: chitin (1)
Chitin, also known as chitin, chitosan, a chemical structure similar to the fiber and polymer polysaccharide, is widely found in insects and crustaceans animals and fungi of the hard shell in the cell wall. In recent years, researchers on chitin and its derivatives have been studied, providing a lot of valuable information, demonstrated its broad prospects. In this paper, chitin in the application of Chinese medicine to do a profile, so that the development and utilization of resources.
First, the pharmacological effects of chitin
1. Antibacterial and anti-infection chitin derivatives are a variety of different levels of anti-infection, so as to chitin xylanase for the six strongest. Deacetylation of small molecule chitin with ammonium Proton, Proton and ammonium bacteria negatively charged cell membrane, adsorption and poly-bacteria, at the same time penetrating the cell wall to enter cells and disrupt bacterial metabolism and synthesis of antimicrobial activity. Xia water, Wu Yan-nan suggested that the relative molecular weight of 1,500 deacetylation chitin inhibitory effect on the E. coli strongest, with the molecular weight increases, the inhibitory effect decline. Sinorama is found, chitin deacetylation of Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, a sharp intestinal Na Ul's guitar bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella injury rat-proliferation of nuclear, have strong effect. China Textile University Professor Wu Qingji has been successful in non-woven fabrics made of chitin, cast film, coated gauze and other medical dressings for clinical, chitin and non-woven fabrics made of breathable acetate flooding excellent performance For large area burn burn, anti-infection and promote healing good effect. At present, Shanghai annually produces chitin about 100 tons of medical materials.
2. Jiangzhi Tao Wei, such as atherosclerosis and the prevention and treatment of cholesterol by 1 percent and the Deoxidation of Sodium feed 0.2 percent of the rats fed 28 days, induced hyperlipidemia at the same time, the oral deacetylation chitin observed on high The impact of blood lipids. A control group of high fat and low, middle and high dose of the three experimental groups. The results showed that the deacetylation chitin, the high-dose group of total cholesterol and triglyceride levels and the high fat compared to the control group, which reduced 10.5 percent, 14.2 percent, which decreased 18.8 percent and 26.1 percent, low, , Three high-dose group of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high fat compared to the control group, were increased by 16.5%, 32.7% and 50.4%. GU Yun, such as the 31 cases of adult patients with high blood lipid deacetylation chitin lipid-lowering oral test, after 30 inspection, cholesterol, triglycerides fell, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL no significant Changes.
3. Anti-virus many scientists from various chitin sulfate confirmed the anti-viral activity. Derek Horton, and so on-that contain the SO42-chitin derivatives on blood virus a significant effect. 1992 Vorcellotti found, such as derivatives can inhibit chitin sulfonated mammals infected with the virus, in particular can inhibit and treatment of HIV infection and inhibit its reproduction of IC50 was 7 ng / ml, but also can inhibit the homes's leukemia HIV and herpes simplex virus.
4. Chitin small molecule anti-tumor has an excellent anti-tumor activity, especially chitin six xylanase has strong anti-tumor effect. Japan's Ehime University Professor Tian by the Austrian experiment confirmed that the chitin in 64 ng / ml when the concentration of cells can kill cancer cells enhanced the role. Suzuki Mao-sheng, deacetylation chitin can directly inhibit cancer cell EAC role in containing the cancer cells 1 × 105 solution, by adding 0.5 mg / ml of deacetylation chitin, 24 hours after the cancer completely dead. Saiki I, sulphuric acid and sulphuric acid chitin carboxymethyl chitin of melanoma tumor cells significantly inhibited, and the role of a dose-effect relationship. Fujian Normal University, Liu such as the S180, and so on mice inoculated tumor cells, a control group and experimental group of chitin, the experiments show that deacetylation of chitin S180 cancer cells in mice significantly inhibited. Researchers at home and abroad of its anti-tumor effect of great concern.
5. Anticoagulant Muzzarelli in the 1950s and 1960s, and so on chitin to fully understand the chemical structure of sulfate and heparin similar to indicate such compounds have anti-clotting activity. 1985 Hirano, molecular weight 26000, O-bit dual-sulfate chitin the anticoagulant heparin activity is (174 units / mg) of 1.9 to 2.2 times.
6. Gui-Ying Zhang, and so that other, deacetylation Chitin has a good anti-radiation performance. Li Jiang, and other studies show that the deacetylation chitin can protect the liver, liver raise antioxidant capacity. Shenyang Railway General Hospital high-wind deacetylation of chitin oral treatment of angina five people, four were in arrhythmia, stubborn heart failure four people are satisfied with the effect of receipt. In addition, some combination of chitin derivatives can Fe2 +, enhance the gastrointestinal tract absorption, for the treatment of iron deficiency.