Antioxidant activity of novel chitin derivative

Novel water-soluble chitin derivative was prepared by chemical modification to evaluate antioxidant activities by free radical scavenging potential using electron spin resonance spin trapping technique. Aminoethyl-chitin (AEC) exhibited free radical scavenging activities against 1,1-diphenyt-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl, superoxide, and peroxyl radicals. AEC quenched DPPH and peroxyl radical over 55% and 59% at 4 mg/mL, and also suppressed superoixde radical over 58% at 2 mg/mL. Especially, AEC was more active against hydroxyl radical, and scavenging ratio was 92.2% at 0.12 mg/mL. These results suggested that free amino group in the -CH2CH2NH2 plays an important role in the free radical scavenging activity. In addition, cytotoxic effect of AEC was assessed using human lung fibroblast (MRC-5) cell line, and AEC showed less toxic against MRC-5. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.