Physicochemical and functional characterization of chitosan prepared from Schistocerca gregaria (desert grasshopper) and the investigation of its antimicrobial activity

Abstract

Chitosan a versatile bioploymer was prepared from Schistocerca gregaria (desert grasshopper). The physicochemical parameters associated with the prepared chitosan were analyzed. Percentage yields (25.23%), ash content (3.25%), moisture content (1.72%), fat binding capacity (399.91%), pH (6.7-7.0), solubility (2% acetic acid) and degree of deacetylation (97.68%) were all established. FTIR and surface morphology (via SEM) analyses were carried out on the prepared chitosan. The activity of the prepared chitosan was tested against two gram positive bacterial species (Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhi), one gram negative bacterial species (Staphylococcus aureus) and three fungi (Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergilus fumigatus) by agar well diffusion methods. The results revealed that the chitosan inhibited the growth of microbes in vitro.