Talk:Chitosan

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[edit] Use as stressor in plants

Chitosan has been reported in the New York Times, Oct 3. 2007 to be a stressor that can illicit an increase in the devensive response of some plants. Namely, the production of antioxidants and 'aroma compounds' related to flavor. They site a study of basil stressed by being soaked in the compound by Clemson University professors Dr. Hyn-Jin Kim and Feng Chen.

NYT October 3, 3007 Organic, and Tastier: The Rat's Nose Knows [1] RRphys 15:10, 3 October 2007 (UTC)


[edit] Weight loss

Chitosan really help to lose weight to some, by diminishing appetite. It probably doesn't work the way it is advertised, but it's "working". Based on my personnal experience and "feelings", it works by binding to heavy metals (mercury, lead).

While a possible reduction in fat absorption might in some cases cause someone to subtly feel a bit different, that is by no means a determining factor. Secondly, one rarely consumes any heavy metals in one's diet, but are you saying that chitosan is a chelating/detoxifying agent? I haven't come across that claim elsewhere. --Amit 16:02, 19 July 2006 (UTC)
Well I have, Mercola website cites tree studies showing Chitosan removes mercury from the gut(like Chlorella). I would like to see more information on that, does anyone have other sources(Tradingbr 12:41, 14 October 2006 (UTC))
@Amit: Yes, I heard before that chitosan is used as detoxifying agent. It is used in water filters, to filter out certain heavy metals. effeietsanders 07:43, 16 October 2006 (UTC)
Hi, could you provide a link for that?(Tradingbr 12:49, 17 October 2006 (UTC))
Hmmm, I made a report about this stuff some time ago. It should be somewhere in one of these links I guess...

125.163.100.242 11:41, 10 August 2007 (UTC)*[11] http://biotech.co.id At least this website tells about it: [2]. I know it is not much, but the scientist who helped me with this project told it was reasonable, and it had probably something to do with the helix-shape it could be trapped in. effeietsanders 11:24, 30 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Clarifying agent

Chitosan is often used in conjunction with Bentonite as a clarifying agent in wine making to remove unwanted cloudiness and hazes in the finished product. Kitsune818 13:44, 30 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Unreferenced claim

Chiosan will also increase the bioavailability of morphine.

Bioavailability of Morphine: Oral: ~30% Insufflated: 10-20%

Here's the VERY interesting part: Chitosan [a linear polysaccharide that helps absorb drugs better] has been shown to increase nasal bioavailability of morphine from around 10-20% to over 60%

Going from 20% TOPS, to over 60% for insufflation methods of ingestion.




here are the references (i wrote about in my diploma thesis):

Illum, L., P. Watts, et al. (2002). "Intranasal delivery of morphine." Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 301(1): 391-400.


Pavis, H., A. Wilcock, et al. (2002). "Pilot study of nasal morphine-chitosan for the relief of breakthrough pain in patients with cancer." Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 24(6): 598-602.


best regards 130.208.188.119 01:16, 4 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] History of chitosan

If anyone can provide information on history it wold be interesting. E.g.:

  • when first isolated, when named, ...by whom
  • when first used for specific applictions (...by whom)

—DIV (128.250.80.15 (talk) 07:33, 28 December 2007 (UTC))

There is a reference to chitin in 1892

Amyloid substance. Krawkow, N. P. Centr. Med., Wiss. (1892), 145-48. From: J. Chem. Soc., Abstr. 64, I, 288 1893

and to both chitin and chitosan in 1894

Chitin and cellulose. Hoppe-Seyler, F. Berichte der Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschaft (1894), 27 3329-31. From: J. Chem. Soc., Abstr. 68, I, 166-7 1895

Source: SciFinder Scholar 2006, ACS
I am certain these are not the earliest references. —DIV (128.250.80.15 (talk) 07:43, 28 December 2007 (UTC))