Chitin and chitosan from the Norway lobster by-products: Antimicrobial and anti-proliferative activities

Chitin was recovered through enzymatic deproteinization of the Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) processing by-products. The obtained chitin was characterized and converted into chitosan by N-deacetylation, the acid-soluble form of chitin. Chitosan samples were then characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and 13 Cross polarization magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (CP/MAS)-NMR spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activity and anti-proliferative capacity of chitosan were evaluated.Antimicrobial activity assays indicated that prepared chitosan exhibited marked inhibitory activity against the bacterial and fungal strains tested. Further, cytotoxic effects of chitosan samples on human colon carcinoma cells HCT116 was evaluated using the MTT assay. Chitosan showed the antiproliferative capacity against the colon-cancer-cell HCT116 in a dose dependent manner with IC50 of 4.6 mg/ml. Indeed, HCT116 cell proliferation was significantly inhibited (p < 0.05) between 13.5 and 67.5% at 0.5–6 mg/mL of chitosan after 24 h of cell treatment. The chitosan showed high antitumor activity which seemed to be dependent on its characteristics such as acetylation degree.