Chitin: Drug from fishery wastes

CHITIN flakes or powder, prepared from shrimp shell, is a polysaccharide used in food, medicine, cosmetics, paper and in the purification of water and preservation of fruit, sandwich, cheese etc. Chitin is also used as chitin-xanthate in the surgical thread.
More than four decades have elapsed since this biopolymer had aroused much interest in the scientific community around the world for its extensive biomedical applications. Prospect for this biopolymer is vast. It forms the basis of the hard shell of crustaceans such as crab, lobster, shrimp etc.
The scientists of the 'Carbohydrate Section' of the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) have converted shrimp shell, once neglected as a waste material from shrimp processing industries, into valuable chitin (poly N-acetyle glucosamine, so called for its chemical structure). Scientists observed that products like glucosamine and chitosan can be prepared after modification of chitin by chemical processes.
Glucosamine is found in cartilage (the strong white flexible substance to be found between the joints in the body) and provides an important function in joint lubrication. As the body ages, deterioration of the cartilage begins resulting in osteoarthritis and inflammation of the joints. Glucosamine is used as an active ingredient of medicine for the treatment of osteoarthritis.
Chitosan is usually used to reduce obesity and serum cholesterol. It is highly valued as a natural ingredient for cosmetics like shampoo, nail polish, cream, lotion etc Among the scientists involved in this research are Md. Asaduzzaman, former Chief Scientific Officer, Shudangshu Kumar Roy, principal Scientific Officer and Dr. Shah Md. Masum of the 'Carbohydrate Section' of the BCSIR Laboratories. Scientists also have experimentally shown that heavy metals like chromium and cadmium can be removed from the contaminated water by the treatment of chitosan. It may be mentioned that heavy metals are harmful for health.

The writer heads Instrumentation & Calibration Service Laboratory (ICSL), a project of BSCIR.

Notes
Polysaccharides: A class of carbohydrates, such as starch and cellulose
Xanthates: They can be produced by the reaction of alcohol with sodium or potassium hydroxide and carbon disulfide.
Polymer: A large molecule (macromolecule) composed of repeating structural units typically connected by covalent chemical bonds
Biopolymers: Polymers produced by living organisms