Chitin is the main structural substance of the cell walls of fungi, as well as the arthropod integument. It has good waterproof properties and is also an excellent structural component. Man was able to use chitin for his own purposes. What is it and why has it become so popular today?
Molecule structure
Since it is a polymer, it consists of many individual molecules of glucose isomers. These isomers are called N-acetyl-β-D-glucosamine, and due to the unusual beta-bond in the composition, they are able to form branched polymer chains.
Chitin is sometimes referred to as chitosan. Its main difference is that it is very similar in structure to the known cellulose, which is part of the cell walls of plants. If the latter takes the first place in the production and isolation from plant tissues, then chitin, in turn, is second in this rating. This once again proves the popularity of the substance in industry and cosmetology.
In nature
Chitin contains all representatives of the arthropod type. This substance is located in the upper layers of the exoskeleton of insects, spiders and crustaceans, which makes the covers waterproof. This property allowed terrestrial creatures to not be afraid of drying out and the loss of water through the surface of the body.
Mushroom cells also contain chitin in their cell walls. What can he give the body? First of all, the strength of all its cells, and also to avoid the loss of moisture from the cytoplasm.
Chitin is absent in plants, since they already contain another biopolymer in the composition of the cell walls - cellulose. On this basis, true plants and algae are distinguished, and the presence of one of the biopolymers is a comparative characteristic of different kingdoms of organisms.
Chitin Isolation
On an industrial scale, chitosan is isolated from the outer skeleton of crustaceans, although this is a rather expensive business. Therefore, the procedure for isolating this polymer is constantly being modernized, and as a result, new sources of natural chitin have been found.
Thus, the high rate of reproduction of insects has become the main reason why chitin is extracted from bees or houseflies. What are these your flies, you ask. However, when viewed on an industrial scale, the production of chitin from insects has taken a large turn, and a sufficient amount of natural polymer is obtained at the output . So, in Russia some points for growing bees with the aim of chitin extraction have already been developed.
Do not forget about mushrooms, as well as some seaweeds, since the composition of the cell membranes of these organisms contains chitin, it is isolated in the same way as cellulose in plants. Although the efficiency of such a business is poor, it cannot be excluded from the list of possible sources of chitosan.
The value of chitin for humans
What is chitin in biology? This is not only a structural component that prevents the loss of water, but also a biopolymer with bactericidal properties. This makes it possible to use chitin in the production of bandages, gauze and special bath sponges.
Chitin binds well to fats. If a person takes special medications, which contains a certain proportion of chitosan, the fats in the intestine bind to the biopolymer and are excreted from the body with it. As a result, the amount of digestible fat decreases, which lowers the amount of cholesterol in the body. However, chitin can also play a cruel joke with a person with excessive use, it also reduces the content of vitamin E and leads to other unpleasant consequences.
Chitosan has recently been added to cosmetic products as a natural component. Such cosmetics make the skin supple, nails healthy, and hair after the action of shampoos with chitin in the composition becomes shiny and healthy.
Interesting Facts
In Asia and the West, fried grasshoppers, locusts and other arthropods are sold in many markets. Entomophagy has become a popular trend recently among gourmets, due to the content of such useful chitin in the cover of small insects and crustaceans.
Doctors have found that chitin helps with wound healing, due to its high compatibility with animal tissue. This makes it possible to use the biopolymer in the manufacture of special healing ointments, however, the study of such properties of chitosan is still ongoing.
A very high nutritional value of such a biopolymer as chitin is noted. What can a handful of small insects give that is even hard to chew? The answer will amaze you: 100 g of grasshoppers can give the body 20.5 g of protein, when the nutritional value of the usual beef is slightly different and is 22.5 g. The only problem is that collecting 100 grams of small grasshoppers is much harder than cutting 100 g of meat cattle.