1. APPLICATION OF FUNGAL PIGMENTS
IN FOOD INDUSTRY
PRESENTED BY:
St. George College of Management and Science
Mousami Jaria
MSc Microbiology
Semester 2
2. INTRODUCTION
• Among the many microorganisms fungi play
an important role in pigment production that
can be used safely .
• Fungi produce many primary and secondary
metabolites, organic acids, pigments and
other food additives.
• These products of fungi possess many
therapeutic applications like immune
modulators, anticancer, antioxidant etc.
4. • Natural colorants posses antimicrobial activity
and lesser chance of being allergic and are
ecofriendly.
• Fungal pigments are secondary metabolites
that are sometimes produced due to scarcity
in nutrional value.
• Some fungi like Aspergillus, Fusarium,
Penicillium and Trichoderma produce various
pigments as there intermediate metabolites .
• Fungal pigments are classified as carotenoids
and polyketides.
7. APPLICATIONS
• Natural or synthetic colors are very important in
attractive appearance of industrial food making
more attractive.
• Some fungal pigments are used for specific
purposes such as carotenoids protect food and
acts as sunscreen.
• Monascus pigment production:
o Monascus red pigments generally produced as MFR
(monascus fermented rice) improve the organoleptic
characteristics of the food products.
8. o This pigment contain monocolins which
induces the LDL cholesterol and increases
HDL cholesterol.The common names of this
fungal products are red yeast rice, angkak,
benikoji( japan), red mould (USA).
o Monascus fungi organisms produce angkak
can convert starchy substrates into several
metabolites such as alcohols, fatty acids,
flavour compounds, pigments and vitamins.
Thus its implementation as a coloring
agent in food provides a specific flavor in
product.
9.
10. • Riboflavin vitamin B2 :
o It is the yellow food colorant and its use is
permitted in many countries.
o Because of its specific affinity it is used mainly for
cereal based products
o Applications of riboflavin is limited due to its bitter
taste and naturally slight odour.
12. • Lycopene production:
o It is red open chain unsaturated carotenoid acyclic
isomer of beta carotene, and longer than any
other carotenoid.
o Lycopene also called psi-carotene is very sensitive
to heat and is insoluble in water.
GENETICALLY MODIFIED FUNGUS:
o Fungus Fusarium sporotrichioide was used to
manufacture colorant and antioxidant lycopene
o Cheap corn material was used as substrate
o Cultures in lab flasks produced 0.5 mg
(lycopene)/g of dry mass within 6 days .
14. • Beta-carotene production:
o Beta-carotene is a yellowish carotenoid pigment
also known as pro-vitami. It acts as antioxidant
and has potential positive properties against
certain diseases.
MICROBES USED FOR BETA-CAROTENE PRODUCTION:
o Blakesleatrispora
o Mucor circinelloids
o Phycomyces blakesleeanus
16. • Blakesleotrispora: Some strains of this mould
produce high level of beta-carotene. B. trispora
strains are of two types (+) mating type and (-)
mating type. Strains obtained by the specific ratio
mating of above two maating types produce
beta-carotene. Today B. trispora fungal beta-
carotene is produced by two industries, Russia
and Ukraine and second in Leone, Spain.
• Mucorcircinelloides: Wild strains of M.
circinelloides when exposed to the light impulses
blue light, gets activated due to significant change
in structural genes of beta-carotene producing
17. high level.
• Phyomyces blakesleeanus: Phycomyces is
mainly used for the production of various
chemicals like beta-carotene. They have
enhanced cartenogenic potential when grown
on solid substrates or in liquid media
18. CONCLUSION
• The kingdom fungi are a diverse group of
prokaryotes. It produces extracellular
metabolites which carry enormous
biotechnological applications.
• The fungal pigment is one of those bio active
compounds. Almost all groups of fungi produce
pigments of different colors and characteristics .
The most important fungal pigments include
carotenoids, flavins, quinones, phenazines etc.
These pigments carry antibacterial, antifungal,
anti cancerous and antioxidant potential.
19. • The health hazards and environmental
concerns of synthetic pigments compel
researchers to work and find substitute of
such synthetic pigments.
• To overcome hazards of such issues, extracting
fungal pigments and its use could be best
solution, as it takes less effort and cost.
