Cicer arietinum (Bengal gram) husk as alternative for Talaromyces purpureogenus CFRM02 pigment production: Bioactivities and identification

Fungus producing red pigment was identified as Talaromyces purpureogenus CFRM02. Agriculture by-product, bengal gram husk (BegH) was used as substrate for fermentation. Red pigment characteristics were confirmed by CIELAB and UV-vis spectrum. T. purpureogenus CFRM02 produced 0.565 Absorption Unit-AU mL(-1) of red pigment. Addition of peptone, glucose and trace elements to culture medium significantly improved (approximate to 4 fold) the pigment production. The extracted pigment showed radical scavenging (80%), reducing (1.2 OD) and metal chelating activity (40%) and also inhibited food borne pathogens Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Escherichia cob, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella ryphimuriunz. The pigment extracts were nontoxic to Artemia franciscana in a concentration range of 100-1000 mu g mL(-1). Apparently, PP-R (m/z 426) and peniazaphilone-A (m/z 424), present in ethyl acetate extract, contributed for significant biological activities. The BegH can be utilised for production of important biotechnological products like bioactive pigments as a fermentative substrate.