Lovastatin Production byAspergillus terreusUsing Agro-Biomass as Substrate in Solid State Fermentation

Abstract

Ability of two strains of Aspergillus terreus (ATCC 74135 and ATCC 20542) for production of lovastatin in solid state fermentation (SSF) using rice straw (RS) and oil palm frond (OPF) was investigated. Results showed that RS is a better substrate for production of lovastatin in SSF. Maximum production of lovastatin has been obtained using A. terreus ATCC 74135 and RS as substrate without additional nitrogen source (157.07 mg/kg dry matter (DM)). Although additional nitrogen source has no benefit effect on enhancing the lovastatin production using RS substrate, it improved the lovastatin production using OPF with maximum production of 70.17 and 63.76 mg/kg DM for A. terreus ATCC 20542 and A. terreus ATCC 74135, respectively (soybean meal as nitrogen source). Incubation temperature, moisture content, and particle size had shown significant effect on lovastatin production (P < 0.01) and inoculums size and pH had no significant effect on lovastatin production (P > 0.05). Results also have shown that pH 6, 25°C incubation temperature, 1.4 to 2 mm particle size, 50% initial moisture content, and 8 days fermentation time are the best conditions for lovastatin production in SSF. Maximum production of lovastatin using optimized condition was 175.85 and 260.85 mg/kg DM for A. terreus ATCC 20542 and ATCC 74135, respectively, using RS as substrate.

Genome Shuffling of Mangrove EndophyticAspergillus luchuensisMERV10 for Improving the Cholesterol-Lowering Agent Lovastatin under Solid State Fermentation

“…Lovastatin production was increased from 76 to 304mg/gds when particle size decreased from 2.0 to 0.4 mm. As reported by Jahromi et al [38], there are two different effects of particle size on SSF process at any given moisture content. The first is that smaller particle size increases the surface region of solid materials for the attachment and growth of the fungi; the second is that smaller particle size decreases inter-space between particles and gas phase oxygen transfer.…”

“…Manzoni and Rollini [37] statedthat by adjusting pH and gradually adding the carbon source, lovastatin productivity by filamentous fungi could improve fivefold. On the other hand, Jahromi et al [38] indicated that the initial pH element has no significant effect on lovastatin yield, because they found no significant alteration in lovastatin yield by A. terreus ATCC 20542 and A. terreus ATCC 74135 at pH of 5 to 8.…”

“…Any additional increase in spore density leads to gradual decrease in lovastatin productivity. Conversely, Jahromi et al [38] and Pansuriya and Singhal [25] reported that inoculum sizes did not affect lovastatin productivity by the two strains of A. terreus but using inoculum lower than 5 × 10 7 spore/mL can decrease the productivity of lovastatin.…”

“…This may be because of the adequate amount of oxygen and water present within the substrate. Jahromi et al [38] suggest that 50% moisture content is optimal for lovastatin yield by two strains of A. terreus . Solid substrate with 60% moisture content resulted in maximum lovastatin production in A. flavipes and A. terreus [23] and mevastatin using P. citrinum NCIM 768 under SSF [43] but moisture content up to 75% enhanced lovastatin production by endophytic A. niger [39].…”

Lovastatin-producing endophytic fungus isolated from a medicinal plant Solanum xanthocarpum

“…The NMR analysis of standard was not shown. Since the hydroxyl form of lovastatin is not stable, lactone form is normally the primary lovastatin detected in the fermented products (Jahromi et al 2012 Figure S3(A),(B)). The chemical shifts are summarised in Table S1.…”