Effective factors on stimulate and stability of synthesised carotenoid by Neurospora intermedia

• Published in: Nutrition and food science Vol. 41; no. 2; pp. 89 - 95
• Main Authors: Sowti Khiabani, Mahmoud, Hamidi Esfahani, Zohreh, Azizi, Mohammad-Hossein, Sahari, Mohammad Ali
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bradford Emerald Group Publishing Limited 29-03-2011
• Subjects: Antibiotics; antioxidant activity; Biosynthesis; Carotenoids; Drying; industry; Kinetics; Methods; mycelium; Neurospora; Neurospora intermedia; Studies; Temperature; Fungi; Pigments; Drying
• ISSN: 0034-6659; 1758-6917
• DOI: 10.1108/00346651111117355

Purpose - Carotenoids have been extensively used in many industries owing to their colorant and strong antioxidant properties. Because of their useful properties, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of penicillin-adding time on stimulation of carotenoid production by Neurospora intermedia, and the effect of drying methods on stability of synthesized carotenoids.Design methodology approach - In the first stage, curve of growth kinetic of cultures incubated at 31°C and different times (24, 48, 72, 80, 96, 104, 112, 120, 128, 136 and 144 h) to determine log and stationary phases was depicted. Then penicillin (1 mg l) at initial and middle of log phase and initial of stationary phase was applied and its effect on carotenoid production was evaluated. In the second stage, mycelia containing carotenoid were dried by microwave oven, vacuum microwave, vacuum oven and freeze drier. Thereafter, effect of drying methods applied on stability of synthesized carotenoid was determined.Findings - The results showed that penicillin could stimulate carotenoid biosynthesis in N. intermedia. Furthermore, this study indicated that the best time of penicillin adding is middle of log phase or after this time. Also the study indicated that there was a significant difference among applied methods as microwave-dried mycelium had the highest carotenoid contents in comparison to the other drying methods.Originality value - This paper is believed to be the only one which investigates the effect of different factors on stimulate and stability of synthesized carotenoid by N. intermedia. Also mycelia containing carotenoid were dried by using new drying methods.