Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology

Natural pigments and synthetic dyes have been extensively used in various field such as food production, textile industries etc. Prodigiosin is red pigment produced by Serratia species. Prodigiosin is a promising drug owing to its reported characteristics of having anti-microbial, immunosuppressive, antiproliferative and anti-cancer activity.

The objective of the study is to development and optimization of natural colourant from microbial pigment.

The aim of the work is to formulate suitable growth conditions and interaction of carbon and nitrogen sources in medium for growth production of prodigiosin from Serratia species.

The maximum production A2 (units/cell) was achieved at 28°C, at pH7 with the addition of 1% of carbon source (Glucose) and 0.25% of nitrogen sources (peptone)after 72 days of incubation.

Our results indicate that we have designed an economic medium supporting enhanced Serratia marcescens A2 prodigiosin production giving an added value for crude glycerol obtained from biodiesel industry.