Optimization of media parameters for pigment production in bacteria from effluent water samples

ABSTRACT In last few decades, there has been an increasing trend towards replacement of synthetic colorants with natural pigments because of the strong consumer demand for more natural products. These pigments have been extensively used in food production, fish industries, textile industries, paper production, agricultural practices and researches, water science and technology and also having biological activities as antioxidants and anticancer agents. The present investigation was aimed at Prodigiosin and Carotenoid producing Serratia marcescens, Brevibacterium maris and Micrococcus luteus which were isolated from different effluent samples and cultured in Nutrient Agar Medium. In the present study conducted maximum pigment production was observed at pH 7.5, temperature of 25ºC and 16ºC was optimum, concentration of carbon source was at 0.5% and the concentration of nitrogen source was at 0.5% and 2.0%, respectively. The supernatant after centrifugation was used as the pigment sample. The samples (pigments) were subjected to Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) for identifying the spots on the TLC plate and the Rf value was calculated for different spots produced by the pigments. Serratia marcescens and Micrococcus luteus produced maximum amount of the pigments under these optimised conditions, which could be used to increase the production of Prodigiosin and Carotenoid pigments, respectively. Keywords: Prodigiosin, Carotenoid, S. marcescens, M. luteus, B. Maris, Pigment