RESUMO
In the present study, Chitin has been extracted from Podophthalmus vigil. The obtained chitin was transformed into the more useful chitosan we evaluated the antimicrobial activity of different concentrations (25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) of chitosan against 10 species of bacteria and fungi by agar-disc diffusion method. As the concentration of chitosan increased, the antimicrobial effect was strengthened. In the conjugated diene method, the total antioxidant activity of chitosan was ranging from 18.37% to 79.58% at varying concentrations (0.1 to 10mg/ml). The reducing capability ranged from of 0.12% to 0.48% at varying concentration (0.1 to 10mg/ml). The 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging potential of chitosan ranged from 18.08% to 55.56% at varying concentrations (0.1 to 10mg/ml). The chelating ability of chitosan from Podophthalmus vigil on ferrous ions was ranging from 25.82% to 73.54% for the concentration between 0.1-10mg/ml. Hydroxyl radicals scavenging activity of chitosan (0.125- 2 mg/ml) was found to be higher than the ascorbic acid and the range was from 23.18% to 93.28%. Superoxide anion radical was ranging from 5.21% to 65.81% for the concentration between 0.125-2 mg/ml. overall, chitosan from Podophthalmus vigil was good in antimicrobial and antioxidant activity, and may be used as a source of antioxidants, as a possible food supplement or ingredient in the pharmaceutical industry.