Isolation of Carotenoid-producing Yeast, Rhodosporidium babjevae JI-1, and Evaluation of Cell Extract Toxicity against Rat Hepatic Cells

Carotenoid-producing yeast Rhodosporidium babjevae JI-1 was isolated from citrus fruit peel. The red pigment produced by R. babjevae JI-1 was confirmed as beta-carotene. Viability of rat hepatocytes treated with R. babjevae JI-1 cell extract at 20-1,000 mu g/mL was about 85.1+/-15.1-100+/-14.5%.