Study on the anti-age effectiveness of low molecular weight chitosan

Background. Currently, the search for pharmacological agents with anti-aging activity is one of the most popular areas in medicine, cosmetology and nutrition. Moreover, the main focus of research is aimed at evaluating the anti-aging activity of natural compounds, in particular polysaccharides, which combine not only a wide range of biological activity, but also high safety due to the absence of side effects typical of most synthetic drugs. Among natural polysaccharides, chitosan is the most promising agent with anti-aging activity.

Objective. To evaluate the anti-aging activity and effectiveness of low molecular weight chitosan (50 kDa).

Materials and methods. The anti-aging effects of low molecular weight chitosan were studied using two in vivo models: 1. The galactose model of accelerated aging in mice. Outbred nonlinear male ICR (CD-1) mice were used for the study. The mice were divided into two groups: experimental and сontrol. Mice from both groups were administered high doses of galactose daily for 4 weeks. Mice from the control group drank regular water, while mice from the experimental group drank a 0.1% aqueous solution of low molecular weight chitosan (50 kDa). Histological changes in the liver, skin, and testes of mice were assessed after 4 weeks. 2. A study of the anti-aging effects of low molecular weight chitosan administered intradermally to intact mice. Outbred nonlinear male ICR mice (CD-1) were used for the study. The mice were divided into two groups: "Experimental" and "Control." Mice from the control group received 5 intradermal injections of 10 μl of saline daily for 5 days, while mice from the experimental group were similarly administered a 0.1% solution of low molecular weight chitosan. Histological changes in the skin were assessed with morphometric analysis after 8 days.

Results. The conducted studies demonstrated that low-molecular-weight chitosan (50 kDa) exhibits pronounced anti-aging activity when administered enterally in a galactose-accelerated aging model and with intradermal injections of a 0.1% aqueous solution. Enteral administration of low-molecular-weight chitosan (50 kDa) to mice compensates for metabolic changes in tissues caused by high doses of galactose. This compensation for the negative impact of hypergalactosemia is observed for all morphometric parameters: dermal thickness, sebaceous gland and Leydig cell volume density, liver destruction, and germ cell epithelium height in the seminiferous tubules. The most likely mechanism for the anti-aging activity of low-molecular-weight chitosan following intradermal injection is related to the activation of natural physiological mechanisms of skin self-renewal, which are largely associated with the activity of tissue macrophages producing a complex of anti-inflammatory cytokines and tissue proteinases, including elastase and collagenases.

Conclusion. Low-molecular-weight chitosan can be considered not only as a pharmacological agent for stimulating regenerative and plastic processes in the skin but also as an effective anti-aging biologically active component for cosmetic compositions. Moreover, such cosmetic compositions can be used not only topically but also by intradermal injection, including administration using mesorollers.

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