Probing natural carbon sources for bioactive pigment production from S. nematodiphila 213 C

Prodigiosin is a hopeful drug outstanding to its reported distinctiveness of having antifungal, Immunosuppressive and anti-proliferative activity. Investigations made in the present study to construct prodigiosin by using different natural carbon sources as substrates such as cotton seed oil cake, ground nut seed oil cake, sesame seed oil cake, peptone glycerol broth, nutrient broth, sesame seed broth, nutrient broth with 1.5% maltose, peptone glycerol broth with 1.5% glucose, sesame seed broth with 1.5% maltose, sesame oil broth, peanut oil broth, soya oil broth were screened for prodigiosin production by using Serratia nematodiphila 213C. Sesame seed oil cake broth was more beneficial for prodigiosin production. In sesame seed oil cake broth maximum pigment production was obtained 1436.9 units/cell at 280C, pH 7.0, incubation time 72 h, 180 rpm with 2 % inoculums density. Exploit of sesame seed oil cake extract as a raw material for pigment production could be of immense marketable consequence. Further investigation of antimicrobial properties of prodigiosin revealed that it is a potent inhibitor against gram positive bacteria like Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, gram negative bacteria like E. coli, and Candida alb cans like fungal pathogens.