Vegan Chitosan
Natural chitosan is contained in some species of fungi. For example, the fungi species Mucor rouxii, Absidia coerulea and Rhizopus oryzae, which belong to the order of Mucorales, have both chitin and chitosan in their cell wall. The vegan chitosan also comes from these sources.
It is mainly used in cosmetics and food supplements.
Properties and advantages of vegan chitosan
According to studies, chitosan can be lipid-lowering. The substance binds the lipids contained in food and thus inhibits their absorption. This is achieved by enclosing them in a kind of gel and excreting them with the stool. The substance is also said to be able to lower LDL and increase HDL. Chitosan binds the negatively charged fatty acids and is itself positively charged. It swells very well with water and therefore has a slightly satiating effect and shortens the intestinal transit time. The property to bind fats could already be proven in vitro. Chitosan is now very popular for weight control, as an effective fat binder to support a therapy for obesity, and as a lipid-lowering agent to reduce LDL and cholesterol. Moreover, chitosan/vegan chitosan is able to form insoluble complexes especially with heavy metals as it is a so-called chelating agent which is able to attach itself to a larger number of ions at the same time like a tapeworm with numerous tiny suction cups.
The substance usually has only minor side effects. Occasionally, nausea, flatulence or constipation may occur after taking the corresponding food supplements. It is not advisable to take it if you are allergic to shellfish: after all, the substance is found in abundance in the shells of crustaceans such as crabs, shrimps and crayfish.
But the substance is also increasingly used in cosmetics. The properties of chitosan are so diverse that the substance has now also aroused the interest of the cosmetics industry. It is hemostatic, anti-bacterial, anti-mycotic and can bind heavy metals. As an active component in skin care products, it is of great importance.
The following is an overview of the positive properties of chitosan in cosmetics
Superficial wounds such as small scrapes, scratches and abrasions heal faster because the fabric promotes wound healing. A possible inflammation of superficial wounds is prevented thanks to the anti-bacterial properties. On smooth surfaces, the substance forms a film that is not visible and only barely noticeable, but still effectively protect the skin from drying out. In addition, vegan chitosan relieves itching as well as the accompanying symptoms of sunburn and insect bites. The superficially damaged skin caused by itching calms down, is kept sufficiently moist by the protective film and thus heals better and faster. Moreover, the chemical structure of the substance acts as a kind of buffer by stabilizing the natural acid mantle of the skin. It reliably attaches itself to the skin’s own collagen and thus ensures that regrowing cells find an optimal basis. Skin cells in cell culture grow much more structured in the presence of a chitosan matrix. Vegan chitosan is used in the cosmetic sector primarily for oral and dental care products, hair care products and skin care products. It is also increasingly found in lotions and deodorants.
In toothpaste it is an optimal embedding agent for electron microscopy, in material for contact lenses it is used as artificial tear fluid. It is optimally suited for wound closures after dental surgery or, for example, also in the treatment of periodontosis-related tooth bed damage.
And in general, chitosan/vegan chitosan plays a major role in medicine. The substance is an excellent degradable surgical filler (especially in the fields of orthopedics, ophthalmology and dentistry), is used as a degradable suture material for artificial vessels and helps with a deliberate delayed drug release.
Chitosan/vegan chitosan is biodegradable, easy to use and of biological origin, yet without TSE risk (generic term for central nervous diseases of some mammalian species).
All in all, then, it is a biopolymer with almost unbelievable capabilities. Hardly any other natural substance is as effective and versatile as the one that, among other things, makes up the protective shells of many beetle species and the shells of crustaceans and crustaceans.
However, even when used in cosmetic products, side effects cannot be completely ruled out. However, these are primarily allergic reactions. Skin rash, urticaria and itching are possible side effects. Nevertheless, the positive properties and the high benefit of chitosan outweigh the side effects.
Now finally available: vegan chitosan
Now it has finally succeeded, by a patented procedure vegan Chitosan is won from mushrooms.
It has identical, positive properties as the previous chitosan, which was obtained from the waste of crustaceans and can now also be used for vegan products. However, the smell is much better and the fishy undertone in the smell is a thing of the past.
It is now ECOCERT certified, non-GMO, halal compliant and ISO 16128 compliant.
Profile vegan chitosan
CAS number: 9012-76-4
Description: light beige, linear polysaccharide, a colourless, amorphous, viscous substance
Physical state: solid
Class of active ingredients: Lipid absorber, Wound healing, Skin regeneration, Antibacterial
Solubility: insoluble in water at pH greater than 6,4
Vegan chitosan: more than just a slimming agent
The lipid-lowering agent chitosan meanwhile has an excellent reputation as a slimming agent, but it can also excellently unfold its many positive properties in cosmetics. From dental and oral care products to hair setting agents and protective skin care products, the substance opens up a broad field of application. Due to its binding, smoothing and even growth-promoting properties, it can be used in many cosmetic products. We will be happy to advise you about the possible applications of vegan chitosan.
We use vegan chitosan from our partner Kraeber & Co GmbH:
Waldhofstraße 14
25474 Ellerbek
Phone +49 4101 – 30 53 0
Fax +49 4101 – 30 53 90
Email info@kraeber.de
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Ishihara, M.: “Photocrosslinkable Chitosan Hydrogel as a Wound Dressing and a Biological Adhesive”, Trends in Glycoscience and Glycotechnology, Vol.14 No.80 (November 2002) pp.331-341.
Muzzarelli,R.A.A., Rocchetti, R.: “Enhanced capacity of chitosan for transitionmetal ions in sulphuric acid solutions”, Talanta Vol. 21, 1137 – 1143, Pergamon Press, 1974.
EP0965330A1 Cosmetic and dermatological compositions containing chitosan and phospholipids
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