A review on the preparation and synthesis strategies, mechanism and applications of different glucosamine salts and derivatives

Glucosamine (GlcN), a naturally occurring amino monosaccharide, has demonstrated significant biological activities and has been widely applied in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic industries. However, the inherent instability of pure GlcN necessitates its stabilization through salt formation, primarily as hydrochloride and sulfate salts. Currently, these salts are predominantly obtained through chemical hydrolysis of chitin, a polysaccharide derived from crustacean exoskeletons. Recent studies have revealed that different salt forms exhibit distinct biological activities, with some organic salts demonstrating superior bioactivity compared to traditional inorganic salts. This highlights the importance of investigating green preparation methods, diverse salt formation techniques, and comparative bioactivity assessments. This review systematically examines recent advancements in the preparation methodologies, derivatisation approaches, and application potentials of various GlcN salts, with particular emphasis on sustainable production technologies and structure-activity relationships.