Abstract:
The present study is engaged in the selection and optimization of culture medium for the production of hyaluronic acid by Streptococcus zooepidemicus ATCC 35246. Among the cultivating media selected, the one by Nimrod gave highest yield of 252 micrograms/ml at 30 ํC, when cultivated at initial pH of 6.8, agitation rate of 250 rpm then reduced to 200 rpm at 12 hour of cultivation. Inoculum size at the age of mid-log phase was 25% (v/v). The modified Nimrod medium consisted of 5 g/l sucrose (food grade), 0.65 g/l ammonium sulfate. When such cultivation was carried out the hyaluronic acid yield was found to be 543 micrograms/ml which was almost twice of the original one. It was also observed that S.zooepidemicus ATCC 35246 could also produced hyaluronidase into cultivation medium, therefore, heat inactivated at 100 ํC, 20 minutes should be performed prior to the storage of such acid at 4 ํC. Product recovery could be done via organic solvent precipitation with various degree of purity as well as yield obtained depending on method emploved. Thus, the method of choice would depend upon the application planed.