The History of Chitosan -The Fat Burner
July 28, 2009
Various studies and researches have revealed a fat inhibitor namely Chitosan, which is believed to be termed as a fat-magnet since quite some period of time. It is said that this substance provides a safe passage for those who intend to lose fat and tends to work in a miraculous manner.
A polysaccharide derived from Chitins, Chitosan is found in the crustacean exoskeletons. The shells of crabs, lobsters, shrimps, and other shellfish are removed for its processing. In order to find out the answers for the various questions related to the discovery of Chitosan, let us take into account the following data.
In 1811, Chitin was discovered by a professor named Bracconot who worked in the natural history department in France. Chitin, from which Chitosan was derived and is said to be isolated by the professor while working on the study of certain mushrooms a long time ago.
20 years later, it was written in an article on insects that the structure of plants and animals contain similar substance. The author of that article termed this substance as chitin, which means ‘envelope’ or ‘tunic’ in the Greek glossary. In 1983, the concept was further brought into view when the presence of nitrogen in chitin was demonstrated by Lassaigne.
Another story gives us the details regarding how the name Chitosan was derived from chitin. Some time ago, Rouget, who was experimenting with chitin, observed that manipulation could be done on the compound of chitin and that it can be made soluble by treating it with chemicals and temperature.
In 1878, Ledderhose found out the substances, which form chitin, and they are namely acetic acid and glucosamine. Then, it was followed by the naming of the newly formed chitin as Chitosan, by Hoppe-Seyler in 1894.
During the early stages of the 20th century, many researchers who have taken chitosan as their main priority of study began to deal with the substances like crab shells and fungi, which are the sources of chitin.
It was confirmed by Rammelberg in the 1930s that chitin was actually the sources of chitosan. Also, many experts found out by hydrolyzing chitin in many ways that chitin is a polysaccharide of glucosamine.
In the1950s, the usage of x-ray analysis made the study faster and easier and it took the study of the occurrence of chitosan or chitin in fungi to an entirely new level.
However, the presence of cellulose and chitin in the cell walls were found in a more defined manner only when the modern and advanced technologies came into picture.
In 1951, the first book on chitosan was published which is 140 years after the first discovery of chitosan by Bracconot.
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