Production of a heat stable β-carotene with antioxidant activity by rhodotorula sp. Azmi Wamik*, Thakur Meenu, Kumari Priyanka Department of Biotechnology, Himachal Pradesh University, Summer Hill, Shimla, India * E-mail of corresponding author : wamikazmi@rediffmail.com
Online published on 23 January, 2012. Abstract The carotenoids are important natural pigments produced by many microorganisms and plants and have been used in the feed, food and neutraceutical industries due to many health related beneficial properties. The production of β-carotene by Rhodotorula sp. was evaluated utilizing complex culture medium (pH-7.0) composed of dextrose, malt extract and peptone. The maximum β-carotene production was achieved at 25°C after 3 days of incubation. Different methods of cell disruption (pestle and mortar, Bead Beater™, diatomaceous earth, sonicator) were applied to disintegrate the cells of Rhodotorula sp. Various organic solvents like ethanol, DMSO (petroleum ether, hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform and acetone were evaluated for the extraction of β-carotene. The maximum concentration of β-carotene (336μg/g of dry cell weight) from Rhodotorula sp. was obtained by the disintegration of cell with glass beads followed by addition of DMSO and further extracted with hexane and ethyl acetate (1:1, v/v). The extracted β-carotene showed significant antioxidant activity as determined by β-carotene-linoleic acid test. Moreover, the heat stability analysis of β-carotene produced by Rhodotorula sp. proved it to be a promising alternative for use as an additive for cooking. Top Keywords β-carotene, Rhodotorula sp, Extraction, Heat Stable, Antioxidant. Top |