Chitin was discovered by French scholar Braconno in 18 1 1 year. It was extracted from crustacean shells by Ogilvy (() dier in 1823) and named chitin, which was translated into chitin. In nature, chitin exists in the cells of fungi and algae in lower plants, in the shells of crustaceans, shrimps, crabs and insects, and in the cell walls of higher plants. Its amount is no less than rich cellulose, and it is another important polysaccharide besides cellulose. It is estimated that the annual biosynthesis of chitin in nature is as high as 1000 billion tons.
Crab shell contains 40% protein, 30% calcium and 30% chitin. The process of extracting chitin is as follows: firstly, protein is removed by dilute sodium hydroxide solution, then calcium salt is removed by hydrochloric acid, and the rest is chitin. In order to remove acetyl groups from these chitin, chitin containing amino groups (chitosan or chitosan) can be prepared by reacting them in concentrated sodium hydroxide at high temperature for a long time. Because chitin is insoluble in acid, alkali and water, it is difficult to be used by human body. After deacetylation, chitosan can be dissolved in dilute acid and body fluid and can be used by human body.
1) Enhance immune function and inhibit cancer.
Professor Ye Ping Maubo of Tottori University transplanted cancer cells into mice, causing them to develop skin cancer. They were divided into two groups. Give one group of mice "how good it is to save", and the cancer cells in the mice disappear. The other group did not give "Save the Mountain", and all rats died. In the experiment of rabbits, cancer cells also returned to normal cells. As an auxiliary treatment in clinic, "saving many good things" has a good effect on early cancer, and if it is combined with specialist treatment in the middle and late stage, it can improve the curative effect, relieve pain and prolong life. Its anticancer mechanism is as follows:
1. Inhibit cancer cell toxin
With cancer, you will lose weight rapidly, be emaciated, be anaemic and lose appetite. This is because cancer cells release cancer toxin, which reduces the iron in serum and makes it anemia; Acting on the satiety center can make people lose appetite, accelerate the decomposition of body fat and protein, and lead to emaciation and even cachexia. Cancer patients have an appetite after taking chitosan because chitosan has an inhibitory effect on cancer cell toxins.
2. Activation energy kills lymphocytes of cancer cells.
There are a large number of lymphocytes (such as NK cells and LAK cells) in the body, which can decompose normal cells and cancer cells, which is the immune function of the human body. Lymphocytes are most active in killing cancer cells at PH7.4, and the metabolic characteristics of cancer cells are mainly anaerobic glycolysis of sugar, which produces lactic acid during metabolism, so lymphocytes that kill tumors in acidic environment around cancer cells are inhibited. Chitosan makes the PH value of body fluid move to the alkaline side O.5, which creates an environment for lymphocytes to attack cancer cells.
3. Inhibit cancer cell metastasis
Cancer cells usually pass through blood vessels, and there is an adhesion factor on the surface of vascular endothelial cells. Cancer cells can only enter blood vessels through adhesion factors, and then combine with blood adhesion factors to move, and then combine with other parts to form tumor thrombus and become metastatic focus. Chitosan has a strong adsorption effect on adhesion factors. Cancer cells can't metastasize without finding binding substances.
(2) lowering cholesterol
Cholesterol is an indispensable substance for human body. Besides being a component of cell membrane, it can also transform bile acids, steroid hormones and vitamin D in the body. . Normal cholesterol metabolism is good for the body. However, excessive cholesterol accumulates on the wall of blood vessels, which narrows the lumen of blood vessels and hinders blood flow. Angina pectoris is caused by myocardial ischemia and hypoxia. Blood with high cholesterol is prone to thrombosis, partial myocardial necrosis and myocardial infarction. Cerebral thrombosis can cause cerebral infarction.
Chitosan can reduce cholesterol, and its mechanism is as follows:
1. Obstructs the absorption of cholesterol in the body.
After cholesterol in food enters the body, it needs to be converted into cholesterol ester under the action of enzymes before it can be absorbed by the intestine. This process requires the participation of bile acids. Bile acid is a surface active substance, which can emulsify lipids. Chitosan can easily combine with bile acids and expel them all. Because the bile acids around cholesterol disappear, this enzyme can't convert cholesterol into cholesterol esters that are easily absorbed by the intestine.
2. Hinder the absorption of fat
Because chitosan is a cationic compound with positive charge, it gathers around negatively charged lipid droplets in the body to form a barrier and hinder absorption. At the same time, it can also combine with bile acids, affect lipid emulsification and reduce its absorption.
3. Promote cholesterol conversion
Cholesterol is converted into bile acids in the liver. Bile acid is an important component in digestive juice and has a certain reserve in gallbladder. Bile acid is usually reabsorbed from the small intestine to the liver after fat digestion and absorption, which is the "intestinal-liver circulation" of bile acid. Because chitosan is easy to combine with bile acid and is completely excreted. Then, in order to maintain the normal content of bile acids, cholesterol must be converted into bile acids in the liver, so that the cholesterol content in the blood will inevitably decrease.
(III) Hypotensive effect
The treatment principle of essential hypertension is to limit salt intake, and about 60% patients can lower their blood pressure. Recent experiments have proved that the increase of blood pressure is only related to chloride ions in salt, but not to sodium ions. Chloride ions in salt can activate angiotensin converting enzyme, which catalyzes the conversion of angiotensin I (decapeptide) into angiotensin II (octapeptide). Angiotensin Ⅱ promotes aldosterone secretion, keeps sodium and water in the body, increases blood volume and raises blood pressure. Chitosan is positively charged, attracted by chloride ions, but excreted in feces, so the body lacks chloride ions, invertase is inactivated, angiotensin II is reduced, and blood pressure is no longer increased.
(d) hypoglycemic effect
Diabetes is due to insulin deficiency (absolute or relative), and the patient's body fluids are acidic (incomplete oxidation of fat produces ketone bodies, which leads to disorder of glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism). If the PH decreases by 0. 1, the insulin sensitivity decreases by 30%, and the glucose utilization rate of patients decreases, resulting in hyperglycemia. Chitosan can adjust the PH value to weak alkalinity, improve the utilization rate of insulin, and is beneficial to the prevention and treatment of diabetes. In addition, it also has the function of regulating endocrine system, making insulin secretion normal and inhibiting the rise of blood sugar. Most adult diabetes is related to obesity, which reduces the sensitivity or number of receptors. Chitosan can eliminate excess sugar, prevent obesity and prevent diabetes.
(5) Enhance liver function
The liver is the largest gland in the human body and has many metabolic functions. It plays an important role in the metabolism of protein, sugar, lipids, vitamins, hormones and other substances. At the same time, the liver has the functions of secretion, excretion and biotransformation. The functions of chitosan in enhancing liver function are as follows:
1. Reduce cholesterol and fat, and prevent fatty liver and hepatitis.
According to the research of Professor Ye Ping of Tottori University, rabbits fed with high cholesterol feed will soon suffer from fatty liver and hepatitis due to the increase of cholesterol and neutral fat in their blood, and their livers will turn red. But at the same time, the rabbit's liver is normal dark brown.
2. Promote the production of hepatitis virus antibodies.
At present, there is no specific drug for treating viral hepatitis, and the maximum effective rate of high-dose interferon for treating hepatitis B or C is 50%. If chitosan is combined with interferon, it can improve the curative effect, promote the production of hepatitis virus antibodies and turn hepatitis B virus negative.
3. Enhance the liver biotransformation function
Under the action of hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase, ethanol becomes acetaldehyde, which is very toxic and can cause headache, nausea and liver damage. Under normal circumstances, acetaldehyde is oxidized to acetic acid under the action of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, and acetic acid is further oxidized to CO: and H. 0, eliminating toxicity. Chitosan can activate liver function, enhance the activity of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, relieve alcoholism and prevent alcoholic liver injury.
(6) Regulation of nervous system and endocrine system.
Regulating the autonomic nervous system and endocrine system can promote the secretion of male and female hormones, enhance vitality, restore youth and prevent aging. Chitosan can improve sexual function.
(7) Improve backache.
The so-called "blood stasis" in traditional Chinese medicine refers to the pathological state of qi, blood and water being blocked. When blood stasis occurs, the peripheral circulation is poor and the body surface temperature decreases, thus becoming chills. Due to poor peripheral circulation, insufficient muscle cell nutrition and oxygen supply, and accumulation of metabolic waste, it will cause backache. Glucosamine, the decomposition product of chitosan in the body, can stimulate vagus nerve and parasympathetic nerve and dilate blood vessels, thus improving back pain.
(8) Treating burns and scalds and accelerating wound healing.
Chitosan has strong antibacterial activity, promotes granulation growth and skin regeneration, and can be used to make artificial skin.
Artificial skin made of chitosan will not have a series of problems caused by human rejection. This kind of artificial skin has strong affinity with the body, can be absorbed by the human body, and can make the skin heal well. It also has the function of promoting cell activation, and can produce a lot of collagen fibers without leaving scars.
(9) Absorb harmful substances in the body and excrete them.
With the progress of science and technology, it has also brought many public hazards, leading to strange diseases of mankind. Among them, the most widely known are heavy metal pollution, cadmium poisoning, mercury poisoning and lead poisoning. "Chitosan" can adsorb and excrete heavy metals.
As a functional health food, "chitosan" exerts its natural healing ability in the body by regulating physiological rhythm, strengthening human immune mechanism and activating cells, and its magical function is not difficult to understand.
Receive guidance:
Chitin should be taken about half an hour before meals, so that it can be distributed in the digestive tract and wait for the arrival of food. Drink plenty of water when taking it, otherwise it may cause intestinal obstruction and even defecation. When taking chitin, don't take fish oil at the same time, otherwise the effect of both will be affected. Those who take chitin continuously for three meals should not take it for more than two months, otherwise it will cause fat-soluble vitamin deficiency. If comprehensive vitamins can be supplemented in time, it can be improved.