ISSN: 2577-4050
Authors: Shanthi R*, Sivakumar MR, Abisha Adline F, Sowmiya S and Chitra S
The present study evidences the immunological properties of chitosan extracted from the shells of Emerita emeritus which includes antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticoagulant activity. The extraction proceeded by subjecting the shells to demineralization, deproteinization, and deacetylation reactions. The presence of chitosan was analyzed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Antibacterial activity of chitosan displayed maximum inhibition for Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa when compared to Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Similarly, the extracted chitosan highly inhibited Candida albicans than Aspergillus fumigatus. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of chitosan for different bacterial and fungal strains was also documented. The free radical scavenging activity of chitosan using 1,1-diphenyl- 2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), increased by 60.40%. The anticoagulant activity of chitosan was discovered when mixed with chicken blood. Overall, the study emphasizes the conversion of aquaculture waste products like crustacean exoskeleton into a beneficial chitosan and signifies the effectiveness of chitosan against invading microbes in aquaculture.
Keywords: Emerita Emeritus; Chitosan, Antimicrobial; Antioxidant; Anticoagulation; Immune System