COST EFFECTIVE PRODUCTION OF PRODIGIOSIN BY NATIVE ISOLATE SERRATIA MARCESCENS MBB01

Abstract

A new strain of Serratia marcescens MBB01, the natural red pigment prodigiosin producing strain was isolated from Western Ghat Ecosystem, Tamil Nadu, India. Prodigiosin, a natural pigment synthesized by bacteria is gaining much interest because of their huge competence as medicinally important product. The regular liquid media currently being used for prodigiosin biosynthesis are nutrient broth, peptone glycerol broth and production medium. A natural media which support the growth of the bacteria and at the same time prove efficient to activate high levels of pigment production was the aim of this work. For this, eleven natural substrates have been tested. Among the tested substrates, peanut powder was found to be the best natural substrate at a concentration of 2 % in distilled water; pH 7; inoculum (5%); temperature (30°C); incubation period of 36 h. The production was 5.2 times higher (470.6 mg/mL) than the optimized basal medium.