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-diphenyl-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.