ABSTRACT
The freshwater crab Potamonautes niloticus (Potamonautidae: Decapoda: Crustacea) is common in River Nile andits tributaries but has no commercial value as edible crab for human beings. Therefore, the present study aims toevaluate the role of chitosan extracted from its exoskeleton for wound healing process as a medical application. Thestructure of chitosan has been physically investigated by using fourier transformer infrared spectroscopy to reveal thevibrational frequencies of different structural functional groups, such as primary amine groups, hydroxyl groups andamide groups. The efficiency of the extracted chitosan was assessed by morphological and histological examinationof wound healing in albino rats. Sections of isolated wounds were stained with hematoxylin and eosin to evaluate thehistological changes during the wound healing process. Chitosan was yielded 30.64% from the crab shells and theresults of wound healing assessments showed that the chitosan treated group (Ch 1%) was more efficient and fasterthan other groups (Ch 2, 3%) versus control groups. Also, the total leucocyte counts showed shortened inflammatoryphase in chitosan-treated groups. The present results showed the efficiency of extracted chitosan in wound healingprocess and can be used in medical applications.