Antiageing activities of water-soluble chitosan from Clanis bilineata larvae.

Water extracts were prepared using water-soluble chitosan from Clanis bilineata larva skin. This study also investigated antioxidant and antiageing activities of water-soluble chitosan. Water-soluble chitosan of Clanis bilineata larva skin (CBLSWSC) showed considerable scavenging activities on superoxide anion and hydroxyl radicals and reducing capacity. Different doses of CBLSWSC were intragastrically administered on a d-galactose-induced-aged mouse model over a period of six weeks. Intragastric CBLSWSC administration significantly increased activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase and inhibited formation of malondialdehyde in brains and sera of mice in a dose-dependent manner. Results suggest that CBLSWSC exhibits high antioxidant activity and can be developed as potential dietary supplement to retard ageing in humans.