Stability Study and Antifungal Activity of Chitosan Films from Shrimp Shells against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides.

Chitosan, a modified product of chitin has found application in various fields such as in foods, cosmetics, agricultural products, and pharmaceuticals. This study aim to evaluate the stability and the antifungal activity of chitosan films produced from shrimp shells. Chitosan films with various degrees of deacetylation (70%, 80%, and 90%) were produced from shrimp shells by solution casting and solvent evaporation method. The stability of the chitosan films was evaluated under a controlled environmental conditions over a 35 days period. The key stability parameters monitored include; tensile strenght, elongation at break, elastic modulus, and water vapour permeability. The antifungal activity of the films was investigated against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides using the disc diffusion method. After 35 days, the mechanical properties (tensile strenght, elongation at break, and elastic modulus), and water vapour permeability of the chitosan films remained largely unchanged, indicating sustained stability over time. The chitosan films at the three deacetylation levels (70%, 80%, and 90%) exhibited antifungal activity against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, with chitosan film with 90% degree of deacetylation showing the highest antifungal activity. From the results of the study, chitosan films at three degrees of deacetylation (70%, 80%, and 90%) have good stability under the storage conditions tested. They are highly active against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, thus could be used as protective films for food preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]