Chitosan is a cationic polysaccharide derived from chitin deacetylation. This polysaccharide and its oligosaccharides have many biological activities and can be used in several fields due to their favorable characteristics, such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, and non-toxicity. This review explores the antifungal potential of chitosan and chitooligosaccharides and the conditions needed for their activity and mechanisms of action to kill the fungal cells. Chitosan and chitooligosaccharides sources, chemical properties and applications are discussed in this review. It also addresses the threat fungi pose to human health and crop production and how these saccharides have proven effective against these microorganisms. The mechanisms underlying the antifungal activity, the cellular processes triggered by chitosan and chitooligosaccharides in fungal cells, and the future perspectives for their use as potential antifungal agents are also examined.
Keywords: antifungal potential; antifungal treatment; oligosaccharides.
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