Applications of Chitosan in the Seafood Industry and Aquaculture: A Review

Use of Natural Preservatives in Seafood: Plant Extracts, Edible Film and Coating

“…Chitosan, which is mainly obtained from crustacean shells, is the second most abundant natural polymer in nature after cellulose and has a wide application range since it is a natural, nontoxic, degradable in nature and commercially obtainable product (Tharanathan & Kittur 2003;Alishahi & Aïder 2012). This biopolymer has the ability to provide perfect film and coating solution when dissolved in acidic water solutions (Yingyuad et al, 2006).…”

A Renewable Natural Bioactive Polysaccharide: An Overview to Chitosan

“…Chitosan and chitosan derivatives show antimicrobial activity in a wide spectrum on human pathogens and on bacteria, which cause food borne intoxication. It was found out in the first studies on the antimicrobial activity of chitosan that it had an inactivating effect on both Graham positive and Graham negative bacteria in a wide spectrum [2,12]. In the further studies conducted in the following years, six different mechanisms regarding the antimicrobial feature of chitosan were explained:…”

“…Chitosan with low molecule weight interferes with the penetration of microorganism through stazole in order to bind DNA and with the mRNA and protein synthesis. Chitosan breaks the physiologic activities such as adsorbtion in the microorganism cell and flocculation of electronegative substances and causes the death of the microorganisms [1,12,13]. In addition to them, it is important that chitosan is soluble only in acidic environment.…”

“…For that reason, effects of pH on the microorganisms should be considered while talking about the antimicrobial feature of chitosan. In other words, pH and chitosan show synergist energy in antimicrobial activity [12].…”

“…However, those omega 3 fatty acids are very sensitive against oxidation reactions may be subject to loss of taste that may displease the consumers during their storage [2,12].…”