ศนี จิระสถิตย์. Optimization for monacolin K and pigment production by Monascus purpureus : a statistical approach. Doctoral Degree(Biotechnology). King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi. KMUTT Library. : King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, 2012.
Optimization for monacolin K and pigment production by Monascus purpureus : a statistical approach
Abstract:
Monacolin K and pigments, produced by Monascus sp. in solid-state fermentation, have
each proven to be beneficial compounds as antihypercholesterolemia and natural food
coloring agent, respectively. However, citrinin, a human toxic substance was also
synthesized by this fungus. In this research, solid-state fermentation of M purpureus
TISTR 3541 was optimized by statistical methodology to obtain high production yield
of monacolin K and pigment along with low level of citrinin. Fractional factorial design
(FFD) was applied in this study to identify the significant factors. Among 13 variables,
five parameters (i.e. glycerol, methionine, sodium nitrate, cultivation time and
temperature) influencing monacolin K, pigment and citrinin production were identified.
Central composite design (CCD) was further employed to investigate the optimum level
of these five factors. The maximum production of monacolin K of 5900 mg/kg and
yellow, orange and red pigment of 1700, 900 and 1200 OD units/g, respectively with
the minimum citrinin concentrations of 0.26 mg/kg were obtained in the fermentation of
M purpureus TISTR 3541 in the medium containing 2% (v/w) glycerol, 0.14% (w/w)
methionine and 0.01% (w/w) sodium nitrate at 25 C for 16 days. After optimization,
the yields of monacolin K and pigments were increased by 3and 1.3-1.5 times,
respectively, while citrinin was dramatically reduced by 36 times as compared to the
basal medium in solid-state fermentation.
The effect of osmotic stress on growth and production of pigment, monacolin K and
citrinin of M purpureus was also studied. The hyperosmotic stress was induced by
addition of magnesium chloride at the concentrations of 5%, 7% and 10% (w/v) in
potato dextrose agar to adjust aw of substrate within the range of 0.988-0.974. The
fungus was then cultivated at 25 C for 20 days. The experimental results indicated that
Monascus growth was inactivated under hyperosmotic stress. The pigment production
was stimulated in 5% and 7% of magnesium chloride, while monacolin K and citrinin
production were reduced under all osmotic stress treatments. At 7% of magnesium
chloride, the production of yellow, orange and red pigment was increased by 1.3, 1.2
and 1.3 times, respectively. In contrast, citrinin was reduced by 1.30 times as compared
to PDA medium at 20 days of cultivation.
The effect of storage temperatures (4, 20, 30, 40, 50 C) and atmospheric conditions in
package (vacuum, atmospheric) on degradation kinetics of monacolin K in red yeast
rice powder was also investigated using multiresponse modeling approach. Storage of
red yeast rice powder at 4 C under vacuum package could enhance the retention of
monacolin K. Multiresponse modeling revealed degradation path of monacolin K acid
form into their dehydromonacolin K and unknown product under vacuum package,
while an oxidized product was also formed under atmospheric package. Monacolin K
lactone form and precursor were degraded into dehydromonacolin K lactone form,
while the degradation of dehydromonacolin K lactone form to unknown was more
pronounced at temperature higher than 30 C. An oxidized product was also generated
from monacolin K lactone form in atmospheric package. High activation energy of
monacolin K degradation in acid form indicated that the degradation of monacolin K
acid form to their dehydromonacolin K was more susceptible to temperature change as
compared to lactone form.