Asian Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology & Environmental Sciences Paper

EVALUATION OF MEDIA COMPOSITION ON THE PRODUCTION OF "C-PHYCOCYANIN" FROM SPIRULINA PLATENSIS GROWN IN SIVAKASI AND ITS ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL

R. MALA, V. KARTHIK, S. SAKTHISELVAN, M. NEERAJA, J. SUGANYA AND S. SARAVANABABU

Abstract

The effects of media composition on the production of C-Phycocyanin (C-PC) from the bluegreen algae Spirulina platensis and the anti oxidant potential of the synthesized(C-PC) have been studied. Six treatments were divided into two groups of nutrient variation. In the first treatment group Zarrouks medium(control T1) was modified by increasing the concentration of sodium chloride (T2 and T3) and the second treatment group by decreasing the concentration of sodium nitrate (T4 to T7) in the medium. Growth of Spirulina in Zarrouks medium served as a control. Up to 120 hours of growth, Zarrouks medium (T1) showed highest growth (16.4x103 cells/mL) than medium stressed with 5g/l (T2) and 7g/l (T3) of sodium chloride (12.8 x103 cells/mL and 15.6 x103 cells/ml respectively). The number of cells were 38.4 x103 cells/mL in T7 and only 28.4 x103cells/mL in T5 and 37. x103 cells/mL was observed in T1 at 195 hours. C- Phycocyanin concentration was markedly altered with nutrient changes. On 10th day of growth the concentration of C-PC was 400μg/g of Spirulina in control (T1). It was significantly increased to 3300 μg/g (T2) in media stressed with 5g sodium chloride/l. Further increase in sodium chloride stress to 7g/L decreased the concentration of C-Phycocyanin to 512 μg/g of Spirulina (T3). Limiting the concentration of sodium nitrate by 1.0g/l ,1.5, 2.0 and 2.5g/l increased the concentration of C-Phycocyanin to 420 μg/g of Spirulina (T4), 550 μg/g of Spirulina (T5) and 633 μg/g of Spirulina (T6) and 600 μg/g (T7) of Spirulina respectively. The results obtained were the mean of three replicates. The data was statistically analysed by ANOVA and the variations within the treatments were analysed by Tukey Krammer Multiple comparison test. The concentration of C-Phycocyanin in all the treatments was significantly different. Antioxidant activity of C-Phycocyanin formed from T2 showed 91.2% inhibition in egg lecithin assay, 72.3%reducing power in reducing power assay and 38.3% scavenging activity in hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity. Thus the study indicates that media constituents can be modified to optimize the production of C-Phycocyanin.