Anti-inflammatory activity chitin effect

Peculiar characteristics of chitins and chitosans are hemostatic action, anti-inflammatory effect, biodegradability, biocompatibihty, besides antimicrobial activity, retention of growth factors, release of glucosamine and M-acetylglucosamine monomers and oligomers, and stimulation of cellular activities [11,12,295-297]. 

During the last few years, our group has studied the effect of chitins, chitosans, and their derivatives on inflammation and MMPs. We found that chitin, chitosan, and their derivatives may be potential candidates capable of preventing or treating arthritis, hepatitis, nephritis, gastritis, colitis, periodontitis, metastasis, and wound related to chronic inflammation diseases by inhibiting the activity and expression of proinflammatory mediators and MMPs. Several substantial reports regarding their anti-inflammatory effect is described below. 

Chitin and its derivatives are natural, nontoxic, biodegradable polymers with a broad range of commercial properties and applications. Although these biopolymers can be used in various industrial fields, this chapterfocuses on the use of chitin derivatives in the functional foods and dietary supplement industries. Many studies have reported the im-muno-modulatory effects in the form of antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, or antiulcer activity [186-188] and found that chitosan derivatives are nonallergenic, so the body is not... 

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