Bioconversion of Ellagitannins to Ellagic acid from Pomegranate Peels by Solid-State Fermentation Using Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus oryzae

R. Sundaralingam; S. Premina; Dr. S. Niren Andrew

Volume : IX, Issue : III, March - 2020

Bioconversion of Ellagitannins to Ellagic acid from Pomegranate Peels by Solid-State Fermentation Using Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus oryzae

R. Sundaralingam, S. Premina, Dr. S. Niren Andrew

Abstract :

Ellagic acid an effective polyphenol antioxidant found in many fruits and vegetables. The antioxidant properties of ellagic acid have incited preliminary research into the impending health benefits of ellagic acid consumption. In the present research, an attempt is made to extract ellagic acid from pomegranate peels using solid state cultures of Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus oryzae and mixed cultures of both. The fungus has the potential to convert ellagitannins in pomegranate to ellagic acid as an intermediary metabolite. Test organisms were isolated from soil, identified and screened for production of tannase enzyme. Solid state fermentation of pomegranate husk (10% w/v) using A. niger, R. oryzae and mixed cultures was performed for the production of ellagic acid. Samples were collected daily from the fermentation oth and physico–chemical analyses like changes in the total tannin content and tannase enzyme assay were performed. After fermentation the production of ellagic acid in the medium was determined using HPLC. The amount of ellagic acid produced was 9.1mg (for A.niger), 79.1mg (for R. oryzae), 69.6mg (for mixed culture of both A. niger and R.oryzae).