Anthelmintic Activity of Chitosan and its Derivatives
Sevinj Allahverdiyeva1* 
, Rustam Allahverdiyev1 , Fuad Rzayev2
Abstract. Chitosan is a biodegradable and biocompatible derivative of chitin which is the second most abundant biopolymer after cellulose. It is mainly found in the exoskeletons of crustaceans and mollusks, as well as in fungi and insect cuticles. Due to its cationic nature and biological safety, chitosan is of a great interest for biomedical and veterinary applications. Numerous studies have demonstrated that chitosan and its derivatives possess anthelmintic, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties. When applied alone, chitosan has been reported to reduce the number of animal and plant helminths, indicating its direct and indirect suppressive effects. In addition, chitosan is widely used as a nano-coating and delivery agent to improve the oral bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of conventional anthelmintic drugs. In animal studies, most applications achieved the desired outcomes, including reductions in helminth burden or egg counts; however, depending on the concentration and formulation, some cases reported mild host-related side effects or limited toxicity against helminth. Overall, chitosan represents a promising and versatile tool for sustainable helminth management, although its efficacy and safety are strongly dose-dependent.
Keywords: chitosan, nano-derivatives, anthelminthic, nematode, cestode, trematode