Crude Pigment Research Articles

The potency of yellow pigment extract from the marine bacterium Pseudomonas oryzihabitans SAB E-3 as an antioxidant agent

Abstract. Putri DA, Astuti RI, Wahyudi AT. 2024. The potency of yellow pigment extract from the marine bacterium Pseudomonas oryzihabitans SAB E-3 as an antioxidant agent. Biodiversitas 25: 2565-2575. Metabolic processes in cells can produce byproducts in the form of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). Excessive amounts of ROS are one of the causes of oxidative stress. Antioxidants are known to act as free radical-scavenging compounds. Pigment-producing bacteria associated with sponges have been widely reported to have antioxidant compounds. In this study, the marine bacterium Pseudomonas oryzihabitans SAB E-3 produced intracellular yellow pigments with potential antioxidant activity. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the in vitro antioxidant and mitochondrial activity at the cellular level and identify chemical compounds. The intracellular pigments produced by P. oryzihabitans SAB E-3 were extracted using methanol, acetone, chloroform, and ethyl acetate. The methanol pigment extract contained the highest number of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, which may have contributed to its antioxidant activity. Furthermore, the active fraction obtained from the bioautographic TLC and harvested using preparative TLC had stronger antioxidant activity against DPPH radicals (75.71 µg/mL) than the crude pigment extract. However, the ABTS radical-reducing activity was lower (226.59 µg/mL) than the crude pigment extract. The maximum wavelength of the pigment extract was 453 nm, indicating the presence of carotenoids. In addition, the lowest concentration of the crude pigment extract (50 µg/mL) and selected active fractions (18.75 µg/mL) increased yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe ARC039 tolerance to oxidative stress and induced mitochondrial activity. Active fraction one extract analyzed using LC-MS/MS contained piceatannol, resveratrol, isorhapontigenin, isoliquiritigenin, liquiritin, and 2-Omethylisohemigossylic acid lactone, which may contribute to its antioxidant activity. Therefore, the yellow pigment extract and the active fraction produced by P. oryzihabitans SAB E-3 are potential candidates for natural antioxidant sources.

Antibacterial activity of pigment extracted from bacteria isolated from soil samples

The purpose of this study was to evaluate antibacterial activity of pigment extracted from bacteria, isolated from soil samples. During the study, 20 soil samples were collected from different areas (forest, agriculture fields, river sides and dumping sites) of Kathmandu and Lalitpur districts which were processed for isolation of pigment producing bacteria by spread plate technique. The pigmented bacterial isolates were identified and enriched in nutrient broth. Then, pigment was extracted in 95% methanol as solvent, which was further characterized using UV-Vis Spectrophotometric and TLC analysis. The obtained crude pigment extract was processed to carry out the antimicrobial susceptibility assay using agar well diffusion method. Out of 13 total pigmented bacteria isolates, four different colored pigmented bacterial isolates (S4O, S11Y, S14P and S17G) which produced efficient pigment on nutrient agar were chosen and they were further processed. Among these isolates, S4O was identified as Staphylococcus aureus, S11Y was identified as Micrococcus luteus, S14P was identified as Micrococcus roseus and S17G was identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa respectively. On characterization using UV-Vis Spectrophotometric and TLC analysis, the pigment extracted from isolates S4O, S11Y and S14P were found to be Carotenoids and from isolate S17G was found to be Pyocyanin in nature. The maximum antibacterial activity was shown against Staphylococcus aureus from all the four pigments extracts. The green color pigment extract from isolate S17G was found to be most effective against all the Gram-positive and Gram-negative test bacteria. This study suggests that these pigment extracts from pigmented bacteria may have beneficial antibacterial roles that can be exploited in controlling unwanted bacterial growth.

Antimicrobial Activities and Painting Application of Pigmented-Producing Actinobacteria Isolated from Rhizospheric Soils of Mosses (Taxithelium nepalense (Schwägr.) Broth. and Barbula indica (Hook.) Spreng.)

In the survey of biodiversity of actinobacteria associated with mosses (Taxithelium nepalense (Schwägr.) Broth. and Barbula indica (Hook.) Spreng.), certain strains of pigment producing actinobacteria were isolated and purified on SCA and incubated at 30°C for 1 week. Based on deep-shade color of actinobacterial pigments, 4 strains were collected and used for painting color preparation. To evaluate the antimicrobial activities, the crude extracts were prepared from 4 actinobacterial strains and tested with Escherichia coli PSRU-01 and Staphylococcus aureus PSRU-01. The results indicated that the crude extracts of C7, C13, C15 and D13 could not inhibit growth of E. coli PSRU-01, but S. aureus PSRU-01 was inhibited. Two fungal testers, including Colletotrichum sp. PSRU-01 and Fusarium sp. PSRU-01, were completely inhibited by the crude pigment extracts of C13, C15 and D13. Based on phylogenetic results, the actinobacterial strains were closely related to Streptomyces californicus (C7, 100% identity), Streptomyces bungoensis (C13, 99.8% similarity), Streptomyces humi (C15, 99.9% similarity), and Streptomyces rectiverticillatus (D13, 99.8% similarity). They also shared phenotypic characteristics with Streptomyces. The cultivated cells of actinobacteria on broken-milled rice were used for pigment extraction and followed by determination of the extracted pigments for mixing with acrylic color in the shade violet, green, orange and pink colors. Application of actinobacterial pigments in painting is the first report and it is an innovative utilization of actinobacterial pigments in non-scientific field in Thailand.

Investigation of anti-adherence and antimicrobial properties of prodigiosin-functionalized bacterial cellulose membrane for biomedical applications

In this study, novel biomaterial that consisted entirely of bacterial products was developed with the approach of designing cost effective material for biomedical applications. With this aim, bacterial cellulose membranes (BCMs) which synthesized by Komagataeibacter intermedius were produced. Moreover, to impart antimicrobial properties to enhance the capacity of BCMs for biomedical usage, prodigiosin (PG) pigment of Serratia marcescens which presents wide range of antimicrobial activities was loaded to BCMs. Firstly, high yield of PG production was achieved, and then crude pigment was purified with silica gel column. The purified PG was characterized with thin layer chromatography and UV–visible spectrometry. The antimicrobial effect of the produced pigment on Gram-positive and negative bacteria and a yeast was investigated. The success of modification in PG-modified BCMs has been demonstrated by FTIR and SEM. Moreover, antimicrobial and antiadhesive ability of novel PG-BCMs were examined with disc diffusion and plate counting methods. As a result, it was established that PG-BCMs were able to inhibit the growth of all tested microorganisms. Furthermore, excellent antiadhesive effect was observed for the tested microorganisms with the inhibition rates of 82.05–96.25 %. Finally, cytotoxicity test with L929 cell line demonstrated that PG-BCM is biocompatible at a level that can be applied in in vivo studies.

An integrated process for enhanced production and purification of fucoxanthin and sulfated polysaccharides in diatom Hyalosynedra toxoneides cultures

BackgroundThis study explores the efficient production and purification of health-promoting compounds, fucoxanthin and sulfated polysaccharides, from the diatom Hyalosynedra toxoneides, contributing to the growing demand for sustainable bioactive compounds. MethodsSemi-continuous cultivation of H. toxoneides (AQ9) in three medium concentrations (2.5f, 5f, 10f) was conducted in a custom-made photobioreactor. Fucoxanthin was extracted using 95 % ethanol, purified through silica gel chromatography, and characterized via high-performance liquid chromatography. Crude polysaccharides were obtained, purified using DEAE-Sephacel resins, and characterized for uronic acid and sulfate content. Significant findingsHigher culture medium concentrations led to increased biomass, fucoxanthin, and polysaccharide yields, providing insights for large-scale cultivation. With a 10f medium in semi-continuous cultures, we achieved the highest yields of approximately 1.18 g/L for cell mass, 4.45 mg/L for fucoxanthin, and 17.20 mg/L for crude polysaccharides, with corresponding productivities of 0.20 g/L/day, 0.74 mg/L/day, and 2.46 mg/L/day. Fucoxanthin was purified from crude pigments with 91 % purity and 70 % recovery. Meanwhile, two uncharacterized sulfated polysaccharides were isolated from crude polysaccharides using anion-exchange chromatography. Notably, the culture media influenced sulfated polysaccharide distribution. This integrated approach contributes to efficient production and purification of bioactive compounds from diatom cultures, with potential applications in diverse industries, including nutraceuticals and cosmetics.

Production, characterization and in vitro biological activities of crude pigment from endophytic Micrococcus luteus associated with Avicennia marina.

Due to their non-toxic and non-carcinogenic nature, biopigments have a phenomenal benefit over synthetic pigments, making them a desirable source for human utilization and a potential alternative to traditional synthetic pigments that are hazardous to the environment and public health. Endosymbiotic interactions between mangrove plants and bacteria could provide an alternate source for the synthesis of unique compounds with potent biomedical applications. Pigmented endophytic bacteria were screened from the explants of Avicennia marina, a mangrove plant, and identified as Micrococcus luteus by molecular characterization. The intracellular pigment was successfully extracted using the sonication-assisted solvent extraction method, and screening factors impacting the pigmentation bioprocess were determined using a one-factor-at-a-time approach. The endophyte produced yellow pigment in the liquid medium, with the maximum growth and pigment production recorded in nutrient broth at 37℃ and pH 7 after 96h of incubation, while the maximum accumulation of pigment was observed in the media supplemented with glucose and tryptone as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. The extracted crude pigment was further characterized by ultraviolet, followed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The obtained crude pigment has been evaluated for its antioxidant and anticancer activity by various assays, such as DPPH radical scavenging activity, FRAP assay, superoxide anion and nitric oxide radical scavenging, metal chelating activity, phosphomolybdenum assay, and MTT assay, respectively, at varying concentrations. The results of our study revealed that the yellow pigment produced by the endophyte showed significant dose-dependent antioxidant and anticancer activity.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial screening of an unidentified yellow pigmented marine-derived fungus

The exploration of fungal secondary metabolites has increased significantly since the first discovery of penicillin. In addition, pigment derived from marine fungi attracts plenty of attention due to its complex and unusual chemical structures, which have tremendous antioxidants and antimicrobial activities. Hence, our current work aimed to characterize the crude pigment extract of an unidentified fungus SUCCF0001 and its potential as an antioxidant and antimicrobial agent. The fungus was cultivated on two semi-solid media namely MEA and PDA for 14 days at 25 °C, and two different liquids media namely MEB and PDB for 14 days at 25 °C with agitation at 150 r.p.m. The semi-solid medium and the fungal mycelium from the broth culture were extracted with methanol, while the liquid medium using ethyl acetate. The crude extracts were characterized using TLC plates and then visualized using DPPH, vanillin-H2SO4, and FeCL3. The presence of carotenoid pigment was detected using TLC with β-carotene as a marker. Antioxidant bioassay was screened using the DPPH method; while antimicrobial activity bioassay was conducted using the paper disc method against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida tropicalis. The results showed that only the PDB extract had radical scavenging activity (RSA) > 50% for antioxidant activity. On the other hand, antimicrobial bioassay showed that only MEB extract had antimicrobial activity against B. subtilis. TLC analysis indicated the presence of antioxidants, terpenoids and phenols in both PDB and MEB extract. However, the result of fungal pigment characterization using TLC concluded that the pigment was not a β-carotene.

STUDYING THE FORMATION AND STABILIZATION OF CUR-AL+3 COMPLEXES BY USING CITRIC ACID AS CATALYST

Cooking ware that is made of aluminum is used in different nations, particularly developing nations, and are a free source of aluminum. Due to its possible harmful effects on human health, aluminum is acknowledged as a public health problem. The goal of the current investigation is to evaluate curcumin's (CUR) capacity to decrease aluminium’s toxicity by forming stable complexes. Rhizomes that are sold in the local marketplaces have an 8.5% crude pigment content of CUR. At various pH levels, CUR's maximum absorbance was identified. Citric acid was used as a catalyst to create the CUR-Al+3 combination at various pH levels, which correspond to the rates at which Al+3 was eliminated from the solution. At pH 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0, the highly complexation was seen. At such pH levels, the Al+3 elimination was 79.22, 78.28, 79.26, and 79.41%, respectively. The CUR-Al+3 complexes’ stability represent, respectively, 96.94, 96.29, 95.55, and 95.52% of the initial concentration at 25o, 50o, 75o, and 100o C for 60 min at pH value of 2.50. Using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), it has been possible to identify CUR and its complex with Al+3. At varied pH levels, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, 5.5, and 6.5 at boiling point, the leached aluminium from 3 regions of the aluminium cooking ware (Syrian, Iranian and local) was specified. Comparatively to Syrian and local cooking wares, Iranian cooking ware generally leached more aluminum. In comparison to other pH values, the percentages of the elimination of the aluminum that is leached by utilizing the most leaching cookware (Iranian) have been 79.23 and 79.26% at pH values of 2.50 and 3.50, respectively.

Interaction mechanism of carotenoids and polyphenols in mango peels

In this study, carotenoids and polyphenols were demonstrated to be the major active substances in the crude pigment extracts (CPE) of mango peels, accounting for 0.26 mg/g and 0.15 mg/g, respectively. The interactions between carotenoids and polyphenols in CPE was observed, as evidenced by that polyphenols significantly improved the antioxidant activity and storage stability of carotenoids in the CPE. Meanwhile, scanning electron microscopy showed that polyphenols are tightly bound to carotenoids. To further elucidate the interaction mechanism, the monomers of carotenoids and polyphenols were identified by HPLC and LC-MS analysis. Lutein (203.85 μg/g), β-carotene (41.40 μg/g), zeaxanthin (4.20 μg/g) and α-carotene (1.50 μg/g) were authenticated as the primary monomers of carotenoids. Polyphenols were mainly consisted of gallic acid (95.10 μg/g), quercetin-3-β-glucoside (29.10 μg/g), catechin (11.85 μg/g) and quercetin (11.55 μg/g). The interaction indexes between carotenoid and polyphenol monomer of CPE were calculated. The result indicated that lutein and gallic acid showed the greatest synergistic effect on the scavenging of DPPH and ABTS radical, suggesting the interaction between carotenoids and polyphenols in CPE was mainly caused by lutein and gallic acid. Molecular dynamics simulations and thermodynamic parameters analysis demonstrated that hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, and van der Waals forces played dominant roles in the interaction between lutein and gallic acid, which was confirmed by Raman and X-ray diffraction. These results provided a new perspective on the interaction mechanism between carotenoids and polyphenols, which offered a novel strategy for the enhancement of the activities and stability of bioactive substances.

The antibacterial activity and silk dyeing of the crude pigment extract from J4 actinobacteria strain

Actinobacteria represent a vast variety of prokaryotic microbes that produce a diverse group of secondary metabolites used in medical, agricultural, and industrial applications. The objectives in this study were to investigate the antibacterial activities and potential for silk dyeing of the crude extract from the actinobacterial strain J4. Initially, the antibacterial activities of the crude pigment extracts obtained from the actinobacterial strain J4 isolated from the wasp’s nest were determined. To extract the water-insoluble pigments used for antibacterial activity testing via the agar well diffusion method, ethyl acetate was applied during the pigment extraction. These extracts showed an inhibitory effect against Salmonella Typhimurium TISTR1472, Bacillus subtilis PSRU-01, and Enterococcus faecalis TISTR459. Secondly, evaluation of silk dyeing was carried out. We used the extractant as 70 % (v/v) ethanol in the alternative extraction process when the strain J4 was cultivated by solid-state fermentation with broken-milled rice to prepare actinobacterial dye for silk dyeing. The pigment extract obtained was tested for color stability based on washing methods, and the sensitivity to light was determined according to ISO105-C06:2010(E) and ISO 105-B02:2014(E), respectively. The color stability and sensitivity of the pigment extract to washing showed scores between 3-5, and the sensitivity to light demonstrated scores between 3-4. Taxonomically, the strain J4 was dark-violet colonies, and its water-soluble pigment diffused on sodium caseinate agar (SCA). To identify the strain J4, the phylogenetic identification based on partial sequencing of 16S rDNA was applied. The identification result indicated that the strain J4 was closely related to Streptomyces coacervatus (99.8% sequence similarity). In future, antibacterial activities of the crude extracts obtained from actinobacteria strain J4 should be tested with other food-borne pathogens. The development of Streptomyces dyes should also focus on the stability of the dyes during the silk dyeing process.

Valorization of pineapple peel waste for fungal pigment production using Talaromyces albobiverticillius: Insights into antibacterial, antioxidant and textile dyeing properties

The present study explores natural pigments as sustainable alternatives to synthetic textile dyes. Due to their therapeutic applications and easy production, fungal pigments have gained attention. However, data on pigment production using solid-state fermentation and optimization is limited. Milk whey was used to grow Talaromyces sp., followed by an evaluation of pigment production in solid and liquid media. Pineapple peels were used as a cost-effective substrate for pigment production, and a one-factor-at-a-time approach was used to enhance pigment production. Pineapple peel-based media produced 0.523 ± 0.231 mg/g of pigment after eight days of incubation. The crude pigment had promising antibacterial and significant antioxidant properties. The extraction fungal pigment's possible use as an eco-friendly textile dye was assessed through fabric dyeing experiments with different mordants. This work contributes to the valorization of agricultural waste and provides insight into using fungal pigments as sustainable alternatives to synthetic textile dyes.

Extraction, purification, characterization and bioactivity evaluation of high purity C-phycocyanin from Spirulina sp. NCIM 5143

The study demonstrates an end-to-end downstream process for extraction and purification of C-phycocyanin from Spirulina sp. NCIM 5143. High C-phycocyanin yield of 155.8 mg g−1 DCW, achieved in a single freeze thaw cycle and significantly shorter treatment time of 6.5 h, attributed to the optimized combinatorial process engineering strategy of: screening of suitable biomass condition (wet) and freezing with buffer at an optimized biomass to solvent ratio (1:100). High purity (2) of extracted crude pigment at food grade level made it a suitable starting material for purification. Due to this, the purification methodology involving ammonium sulphate precipitation and dialysis resulted in achieving analytical grade purity of C-PC in a lesser number of steps. Characterization of purified C-phycocyanin demonstrates the spectral properties and compares its structural similarities to commercial analytical grade C-phycocyanin. Bioactivity evaluation of purified C-phycocyanin shows its potential as anti-oxidant compound with an IC50 value of 123.62 µg mL−1, and as anti-cancer compound with an IC50 value of 232.2 ± 4.2 µg. mL−1 with significant effects on cell migration and cell cycle arrest in G2 phase in HeLa cells.

Prodigiosin Pigmentinin Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera:Tenebrionidae) Üzerindeki İnsektisidal Aktivitesi

Microorganisms and their metabolites have the potential to provide a sustainable alternative to chemical insecticides. Serratia marcescens is an entomopathogenic bacterium that produces hydrolytic enzymes and toxins. It also produces a red pigment called prodigiosin, which has a variety of biological properties. In this study, the prodigiosin pigment was extracted from S. marcescens Se9 isolate with acidified ethanol and concentrated using a rotary evaporator. The insecticidal potential on larval and adult stages of Tenebrio molitor was then investigated. It was found that the mortality rate of larvae exposed to the lowest concentration (125 ppm) of crude pigment was 5%, while the mortality rate of larvae exposed to the highest concentration (2000 ppm) was 68%. The LC50 value of the crude pigment for the larval stage was determined to be 924 ppm. On the other hand, even at the highest pigment concentration (2000 ppm), only 30% mortality was observed in adults. The LC50 value of the crude pigment for the adult stage was determined to be 4570 ppm. It was determined that the pigment had a toxic effect on the pest, but the larval stage was more sensitive than the adult stage. The study showed that prodigiosin pigment appears to be a promising biocontrol agent for use against T. molitor.

ANTIBIOFILM AND IN VITRO CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY OF PIGMENT EXTRACTED FROM MARINE BACTERIA Kocuria flava (AP2)

Natural pigments can be obtained from various sources like plant, microorganisms, and marine algae because synthetic pigments have some toxicity issues and are carcinogenic to both products and workers. Therefore, it is thought that bacterial pigment is a crucial metabolic product beneficial to bacteria and may possess certain biological features like antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer activity. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the antibiofilm and anticancer activities of crude pigment extract from a marine bacterial isolate. The Antibiofilm assay was studied by the 96-well plate method. The pigment from K. flava (AP2) has the ability to inhibit biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Serratia marcescens, Enterobacter sp, Enterococcus faecalis, and Escherichia coli. The optical density at 570 nm wavelength on a plate reader to quantify the overall bacterial growth in each well. Among the six strains, moderate biofilm inhibition were observed at 2.5 µg/ml. In-vitro anticancer activity of bacterial pigment extract was evaluated by MTT assay against human colon cancer (HT-29). As a result of the pigments' strong cytotoxic action, they could be employed as biological agents in medicine.

Selective Isolation of Bioactive-Pigmented Bacteria from Saline Agricultural Soil and Assessment of Their Antimicrobial Potential against Plant Pathogens

The high incidence of disease and pests and their resistance to chemical control agents pose serious threats to both the agriculture sector and the environment. The present study assessed the antagonistic potential of bioactive pigment-producing bacteria isolated from the saline agricultural fields of Gujrat, Pakistan, against plant pathogenic fungi and bacteria. The seeded agar overlay method was used to selectively isolate bioactive pigment-producing colonies. Isolates were identified as Nonomurae salmonae, Streptomyces chromofuscus, and Actinocorallia libanotica using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. All the isolates and their crude pigment extracts were screened to assess antifungal activity against five fungal phytopathogens, namely Fusarium oxysporum (F. oxysporum), Fusarium solani (F. solani), Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus), Aspergillus niger (A. niger), and Alternaria alternata (A. alternata), as well as two bacterial phytopathogens, namely Psuedomonas syringae (P. syringae) and Xanthomonas axonopodis (X. axonopodis). Of these, Streptomyces chromofuscus was found to be active against most of the fungal and bacterial phytopathogens tested, followed by Nonomurae salmonae. Actinocorallia libanotica showed little to no activity against the tested microbes. Nonomurae salmonae and Actinocorallia libanotica are rare actinomycetes and the current study is the first to assess their antimicrobial activity against plant pathogens, specifically, plant pathogenic bacteria, i.e., P. syringae and X. axonopodis. The isolation of these species suggests that the chances of the isolation of rare species of microbes, which can serve as promising new sources of bioactive compounds, can be increased by using enhanced techniques for isolation. The results of this preliminary study assessing the antagonistic effect of bioactive pigment-producing bacterial isolates against plant pathogens are encouraging, and suggest a detailed research on the modes of action, optimum working conditions, and active components involved in an antagonism of these bioactive pigment-producing bacteria.

An orange pigment from the marine bacterium Paracoccus haeundaensis SAB E11 as a prospective source of natural antioxidants

Abstract. Abubakar H, Astuti RI, Listyowati S, Batubara I, Wahyudi AT. 2022. An orange pigment from the marine bacterium Paracoccus haeundaensis SAB E11 as a prospective source of natural antioxidants. Biodiversitas 23: 4730-4737. Bacterial pigment extracts are the source of many natural antioxidant substances. The present study aimed to assess the antioxidant activity of an orange pigment derived from a marine bacterium, identified as Paracoccus haeundaensis SAB E11, analyzed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis(ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS). Methanol-pigmented crude extract of P. haeundaensis SAB E11 exhibited the best DPPH scavenging activity with an IC50 value of 54.7 mg/mL, while the n-hexane crude pigment extract of the bacterium reduced ABTS optimally with an IC50 value of 24.46 mg/mL. The analysis of antioxidant compounds in P. haeundaensis SAB E11 was identified by combining liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LCMS/MS). The five antioxidant compounds from methanol and n-hexane crude pigment extract of P. haeundaensis SAB E11 have been detected. Polyphenols were found to be the major compound, such as 3,5,3’,4’-tetrahydroxystilbene, scopoletin, and liquiritigenin. The other compounds were dihydroactinidiolide (terpenes) and ricinoleic acid (a fatty acid compound). The orange-colored extract of marine bacterium P. haeundaensis SAB E11 could be promising pharmacological capabilities as an antioxidant.

Micrococcus lylae MW407006 Pigment: Production, Optimization, Nano-Pigment Synthesis, and Biological Activities.

Simple SummaryThe global crisis of increased mortality rates due to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance and cancers has increased researchers’ efforts to find new, potent solutions through implementing natural products in the pharmaceutical industry. The present investigation produced echinenone (yellowish-orange pigment) from Micrococcus lylae MW407006 with potent pharmacological activities. A response surface methodology statistical design was used to optimize the biomass production, pigment concentration, and antimicrobial activity. The Spearman correlation coefficient was assessed, which indicated a strong linear relationship between biomass production, pigment concentration, and antimicrobial activity. Nano-echinenone was physically synthesized through the ball-milling technique. The synthesized nano-echinenone showed higher pharmacological activities (antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antitumor activities) in comparison with the crude pigment. The significantly high selectivity index of the synthesized nano-echinenone proved its safety and paved the way for its possible use in the pharmaceutical industry.Bacterial pigments (e.g., melanin and carotenoids) are considered to be among the most important secondary metabolites due to their various pharmacological activities against cancer and microbial resistance. Different pigmented bacterial strains were isolated from soil samples from El Mahmoudiyah governance and screened for their antimicrobial activity. The most promising pigment producer was identified as Micrococcus lylae MW407006; furthermore, the produced pigment was identified as echinenone (β-carotene pigment). The pigment production was optimized through a central composite statistical design to maximize the biomass production, pigment concentration, and the antimicrobial activity. It was revealed that the most significant fermentation parameters were the glucose (as a carbon source) and asparagine (as a nitrogen source) concentrations. Nano-echinenone was synthesized using the ball milling technique, characterized, and finally assessed for potential antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antitumor activities. The data revealed that the synthesized nano-echinenone had higher antimicrobial activity than the crude pigment. The cytotoxic potency of echinenone and nano-echinenone was investigated in different cell lines (normal and cancer cells). The inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of cell death was observed in Caco-2 and Hep-G2 cells. The data proved that nano-echinenone is a suitable candidate for use as a safe antimicrobial and anti-hepatocellular-carcinoma agent.

Optimization, purification, and structure elucidation of anthraquinone pigment derivative from Talaromyces purpureogenus as a novel promising antioxidant, anticancer, and kidney radio-imaging agent

This study aims to investigate the bioproduction and prospective biological applications of a natural red pigment from Talaromyces purpureogenus AUMC2603. Maximum pigment yield was achieved by a numerical optimization at pH 6, temperature 25 °C, and an 18-day incubation period on Yeast Malt Broth (YMB) media. The crude pigment was separated and purified into two pigment fractions via solid-phase extraction and then characterized as anthraquinone (dominant) and herquinone by LC/MS and 1HNMR analysis. The crude pigment extract and the two separated fractions displayed a potential antioxidant activity. Additionally, they showed a powerful anticancer activity towards cancer cell lines, MCF-7, HepG-2, and HCT116 with less cytotoxicity on normal cell lines, MCF12F and BJ-1T. The radioiodination efficiency of the radiosynthesized 99mTc-anthraquinone pigment complex was also investigated and optimized, obtaining a radiochemical yield of 92.70 % ± 0.89 %. An in vivo biodistribution study of the 99mTc-anthraquinone pigment complex demonstrated a high kidney uptake of 34 % injected dose per gram of organ tissue 60 min after intravenous injection, and the complex retention remained high up to 120 min. The current study is the first bioassay report on the efficacy of a purified anthraquinone from T. purpureogenus as a potent agent for kidney radio-imaging that could be applied in kidney cancer diagnosis.

Identification of major carotenoids from green alga Tetraspora sp. CU2551: partial purification and characterization of lutein, canthaxanthin, neochrome, and β-carotene.

The green algae Tetraspora sp. CU2551 was previously identified as a strain with high potential for biohydrogen production; however, its algal biomass characteristics changed from green to reddish orange within 43days of biohydrogen production. The crude pigments were extracted, partially purified, and characterized by chemical determination. The present study focused on elucidating the carotenoid composition of the selected green alga Tetraspora sp. CU2551. The pigment extract was partially purified and fractionated using thin layer chromatography, and yielded two major and two minor carotenoid bands. The fractions were confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) before being identified and confirmed using Liquid Chromatograph-Quadrupole Time of Flight-Mass Spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS). The spectral data of these fractions revealed four sub-fractions of interest that were lutein, canthaxanthin, neochrome, and β-carotene, which had percentages in the crude extracts of 30.57%, 25.47%, 7.89%, and 0.71%, respectively. Lutein and canthaxanthin were found to be the major carotenoid pigments present. Our findings in this present study are the first reporting of Tetraspora sp. CU2551 as a potential alternate source for carotenoid pigment production.

Characterization of Bioactive Actinomycetes Isolated from Kadolkele Mangrove Sediments, Sri Lanka.

Exploring untapped microbial potentials in previously uncharted environments has become crucial in discovering novel secondary metabolites and enzymes for biotechnological applications. Among prokaryotes, actinomycetes are well recognized for producing a vast range of secondary metabolites and extracellular enzymes. In the present study, we have used surface sediments from ‘Kadolkele’ mangrove ecosystem located in the Negombo lagoon area, Sri Lanka, to isolate actinomycetes with bioactive potentials. A total of six actinomycetes were isolated on modified-starch casein agar and characterized. The isolates were evaluated for their antibacterial activity against four selected bacterial strains and to produce extracellular enzymes: cellulase, amylase, protease, and lipase. Three out of the six isolates exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus cereus, but not against Listeria monocytogenes. Five strains could produce extracellular cellulase, while all six isolates exhibited amylase activity. Only three of the six isolates were positive for protease and lipase assays separately. Ac-1, Ac-2, and Ac-9, identified as Streptomyces spp. with the 16S rRNA gene sequencing, were used for pigment extraction using four different solvents. Acetone-extracted crude pigments of Ac-1and Ac-2 were further used in well-diffusion assays, and growth inhibition of test bacteria was observed only with the crude pigment extract of Ac-2. Further, six different commercially available fabrics were dyed with crude pigments of Ac-1. The dyed fabrics retained the yellow color after acid, alkaline, and cold-water treatments suggesting the potential of the Ac-1 pigment to be used in biotechnological applications.