Efficacy of polyketide pigment produced by Monascus purpureus and its biological activity

Abstract

Monascus purpureus (MTCC 1090) was obtained from the IMTECH Culture Collection Centre, Chandigarh, India. Extracellular and intracellular polyketide pigment was produced by solidstate fermentation using red rice production and pigments were extracted with methanol solvent. Maximum pigment production was found with intracellular extraction and the total yield of pigment was 41 U/g followed by 33 U/g for extracellular production by substrate fermentation. Crude pigments were separated by column chromatography and an antibacterial study revealed that the yellow pigment was most effective against all test pathogens and the red pigment was found to be a potent antioxidant. The greatest antagonistic activity was almost 91% against Trichophyton rubrum followed by 88% against Microsporum canis.