Abstract
The combined effects of zinc, gibberellic acid, vitamin B2, amino acids (glycine and L-leucine) on pigment production were evaluated in a liquid culture of Monascus purpureus. In this study, response surface design was used to optimize each parameter. The data were analyzed using Minitab 14 software. Five parameters were applied by using response surface methodology for pigment production in liquid cultures. Four zinc, 11 gibberellic acids, three vitamins B2, eleven and fifteen amino acids (glycine and L-leucine) respectively; levels were evaluated. The highest production of pigment was reached with a 10 mg/l vitamin B2, 50 mg/l gibberellic acid and 50 mg/l glycine amino acid. Key words: Monascus purpureus, response surface methodology, amino acid, gibberellic acid, zinc, vitamin B2.
Highlights
Since many kinds of synthetic dyestuffs have been found to be hazardous to human health, only limited kinds of such dyestuffs are permitted to be used in food in many countries, and there is a need to develop alternative sources of natural food colorants (Lee et al., 2000)
M. purpureus ATCC 1603 was purchased from the Leibniz Institute
Among the five factors used in the central composite design zinc, gibberellic acid, vitamin B2 and amino acids (L- leucine and glycine) were used for pigment production
Summary
Since many kinds of synthetic dyestuffs have been found to be hazardous to human health, only limited kinds of such dyestuffs are permitted to be used in food in many countries, and there is a need to develop alternative sources of natural food colorants (Lee et al., 2000). Monascus is an ascomycetous fungus discovered by Van Tieghem (1884) traditionally used for the production of food colouring, fermented foods and beverages (Alsarrani and Elnaggar, 2005). Pigments synthesized by the fungi Monascus spp. have been traditionally used in Asia for colouring and securing a number of fermented foods (Lee et al, 2000). The angkak has long been recognized as a folk medicine for improving food digestion and blood circulation and for treatment of muscle bruising and dysentery.
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