PRODUCTION OF SINGLE CELL PROTEIN FROM SUGARCANE USING FUNGI

PRODUCTION OF SINGLE CELL PROTEIN FROM SUGARCANE USING FUNGI

P. V. Kamala Kumari^*, Y. Srinivasa Rao, V. Rama Vaishnavi and D. Sowjanya

Vignan Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Duvvada, Visakhapatnam - 530049, Andhra Pradesh, India.

ABSTRACT: Single cell protein is a protein extracted from cultured algae, yeasts, or bacteria and used as a substitute for protein-rich foods, especially in animal feeds or as dietary supplements. Many types of animal feeds contain single cell proteins. It can also be called biomass, bioprotein or microbial protein. The word single cell protein which was coined in the 1960 is considered to be appropriate since most of the microorganisms grow as single or filamentous individuals. Besides its high protein content (about 60 - 82% of dry cell weight), single cell protein also contains fats, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, Vitamins and minerals. According to various investigations on the fermentations of fruit juices, it has been reported that they could be used as feed-stocks for the production of single cell protein (SCP) based on their level of sugar and ability to support the growth of yeasts. Single cell proteins thus, are the dried cells of microorganisms such as yeast that could be grown in large-scale culture systems for use as protein for human or animal consumption. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of bioconversion of sugarcane extract into single cell protein by using fungal strain Aspergillus niger.

Fungal cell culture, Submerged fermentation, Single cell protein

INTRODUCTION: Single-cell proteins are the dried cells of microorganism, which are used as protein supplement in human foods or animal feeds. Microorganisms like algae, fungi, yeast and bacteria, utilize inexpensive feedstock and wastes as sources of carbon and energy for growth to produce biomass, protein concentrate or amino acids. Microorganisms and substrates used for the production of single cell protein as shown in Table 1. Since protein accounts for the quantitatively important part of the microbial cells, these microorganisms, also called single cell protein as natural protein concentrate ¹.

With increase in population and worldwide protein shortage the use of microbial biomass as food and feed is more highlighted. The increasing world deficiency of protein is becoming a main problem of humankind. Since the early fifties, intense efforts have been made to explore new, alternate and unconventional protein ². For this reason, in 1996, new sources mainly yeast, fungi, bacteria and algae named Single Cell Protein (SCP) as coined to describe the protein production from biomass, originating from different microbial sources.

Microbial biomass has been considered an alternative to conventional sources of food or feed. The worldwide, large-scale development of SCP processes has contributed greatly to the advancement of present day biotechnology. Research and development of SCP processes has involved work in the fields of microbiology, biochemistry, genetics, chemical and process engineering, food technology, agriculture, animal nutrition, ecology, toxicology, medicine and veterinary science and economics ³. In developing SCP processes new technical solutions for other related technologies in waste water treatment, production of alcohol, enzyme technology and nutritional science also improves. The future of SCP will be heavily dependent on reducing production costs and improving quality by fermentation, downstream processing and improvement in the producer organisms as a result of conventional applied genetics together with recombinant DNA technologies ⁴. Single cell proteins have application in animal nutrition as: fattening calves, poultry, pigs and fish breading in the foodstuffs area as: aroma carriers, Vitamin carrier, emulsifying aids and to improve the nutritive value of baked products, in soups, in ready-to-serve meals, in diet recipes and in the technical field as: paper processing, leather processing and as foam stabilizers.

TABLE 1: MICROORGANISM AND SUBSTRATES USED FOR SINGLE CELL PROTEIN PRODUCTION

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Collection and Preparation of Substrates: Sufficient amount of sugarcanes were bought from the local markets of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. The sugarcane peels were separated and thoroughly washed with sterile water and were placed in a blender to form a pure extract of sugarcane, this extract was passed through a mesh screen. The sample thus prepared was zip-locked in transparent polythene bags and stored at lower temperatures in a freezer until further study.

Procedure for Single Cell Protein (SCP) production: The obtained extract was taken and transferred to pre-sterilized conical flask, was then autoclaved at standard temperature of 121 °C, pressure of 15 psi for a time period of 15 minutes. After autoclaving, the sterilized sugar cane extract was aseptically transferred into pre-sterilized Petri-plates ⁵. Then upon cooling, in aseptic conditions the Petri plates containing sugar cane extract were inoculated with standard filamentous fungi i.e., Aspergillus niger. These Petri plates were then incubated at 28 °C for 7 days. After the growth of fungal biomass, the mycelia were transferred on a filter paper (Whatman filter paper) and washed with distilled water if any. The filter papers containing the mycelia were dried at 90 °C for 24 hrs to get moisture free fungal content ⁶.

Microorganism: The microorganisms used to ferment sugar cane extract was Aspergillus niger obtained from Department of Biotechnology, Vignan Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Visakhapatnam. The fungi was grown on Sabouraud’s dextrose agar media and incubated at a temperature of 28 - 30 °C for a period of 2 weeks.

Chemical Analysis: The reducing sugars were determined using DNS reagent and the total carbohydrate content was determined using Anthrone reagent. Moisture content was determined by the method based on principle of drying to constant weight. The biomass was expressed in terms of protein content. The protein estimation was determined according to Modified Biuret’s method.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The sugarcane extract was found to contain a good amount of reducing and non-reducing sugars (10.5 and 12.2%, respectively), which is most favourable for the growth of microorganisms. It was further found to contain 0.8% protein as shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2: BIOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF SUGARCANE EXTRACT

Bioconversion of Sugarcane Extract: An attempt was made to study the bioconversion efficacy of sugarcane extract into single cell protein using isolated fungi. For this study the basal medium was used with different concentration sugarcane extract as a carbon source instead of glucose ⁷. After fermentations, the fungal cells were separated and washed with distilled water. The biochemical constituents of separated fungal cells were studied such as wet and dry biomass, protein contents and reducing sugar content ⁸.

Effect of Sugarcane Extract on Wet Biomass of Fungal Isolate: The effect of sugarcane extract on wet biomass of fungi at 1% to 5% concentrations was studied. The results revealed that the wet biomass produced in sugarcane medium was higher than basal medium. Wet biomass of 1000 mg/100ml was obtained and it was recorded on 7^th day of fermentation at 5% concentration of sugarcane extract shown in Table 3 and Fig. 1.

TABLE 3: EFFECT OF SUGARCANE ON WET BIOMASS (mg/100ml) OF FUNGAL ISOLATE

FIG. 1: EFFECT OF SUGARCANE ON WET BIOMASS (mg/100ml) OF FUNGAL ISOLATE

TABLE 4: EFFECT OF SUGARCANE ON DRY BIOMASS (mg/100ml) OF FUNGAL ISOLATE

Effect of Sugarcane Extract on Dry Biomass of Fungal Isolate: The dry biomass content increased with increase in the concentration of carbon source. The results revealed that the dry biomass produced in sugarcane medium was higher than basal medium. Dry biomass of 1100 mg/100ml was obtained and it was recorded on 7^th day of fermentation at 5% concentration of sugarcane extract shown in Table 4 and Fig. 2.

FIG. 2: EFFECT OF SUGARCANE ON WET BIOMASS (mg/100ml) OF FUNGAL ISOLATE

Effect of Sugarcane Extract on Protein Content of Fungal Isolate: Protein content of 450mg/100ml was recorded on 3^rd day of the fermentation at 5% concentration of sugarcane extract. The protein content increased with increase in concentration of carbon source in the medium shown in Table 5 and Fig. 3.

TABLE 5: EFFECT OF SUGARCANE ON PROTEIN CONTENT (mg/100ml) OF FUNGAL ISOLATE

FIG. 3: EFFECT OF SUGARCANE ON PROTEIN CONTENT (mg/100ml) OF FUNGAL ISOLATE

Effect of Sugarcane Extract on Reducing Sugar of Fungi Isolate: In general the reducing sugar content increased with the increase in the concentration of carbon source in the basal medium ⁹. The maximum utilization of reducing sugar of fungi (450/100ml) was recorded on 3^rd day fermentation at 5% concentration as shown in Table 6 and Fig. 4.

TABLE 5: EFFECT OF SUGARCANE ON REDUCING SUGAR CONTENT (mg/100ml) OF FUNGAL ISOLATE

FIG. 4: EFFECT OF SUGARCANE ON REDUCING SUGAR CONTENT (mg/100ml) OF FUNGAL ISOLATE

Effect of Sugarcane Extract on Non-Reducing Sugar of Fungal Isolate: The result of sugar utilization increases with increase in concentration of carbon source with basal medium. The highest total sugar utilization (1200mg/100ml) was noted at the 7^th day at 5% concentration shown in Table 7 and Fig. 5.

Based on the fermentation observations the highest biomass (wet biomass 1000mg/100ml and dry biomass 1100mg/100ml) was recorded on the 7^th day of fermentation at 5% sugarcane extract concentration, where Aspergillus niger was used as inoculum. Concerning protein content, the highest protein content of 450mg/100ml was recorded on the 3^rd day of fermentation at 5% concentration and thereafter decreased. The highest reducing sugar content (450mg/100ml) was recorded on 3^rd day of fermentation at 5% concentration. It is obvious that sugar utilization was gradually increased as the fermentation time increased. The maximum sugar utilization (1200mg/100ml) occurred after 7^th day fermentation.

TABLE 7: EFFECT OF SUGARCANE ON NON- REDUCING SUGAR CONTENT (mg/100ml) OF FUNGAL ISOLATE

FIG. 5: EFFECT OF SUGARCANE ON NON- REDUCING SUGAR CONTENT (mg/100ml) OF FUNGAL ISOLATE

CONCLUSION: The bioconversion effect of sugarcane extract into SCP was evaluated using fungi. The biomass level was increased with the increase in concentration of sugarcane extract concentration, because the sugarcane waste itself contains 12.2% sugar, 0.8% protein ¹⁰. Hence the availability of nutrients in sugarcane has rapidly promoted growth of fungal cells. The highest biomass (wet biomass 1000mg/100ml and dry biomass 1100mg/100ml) was recorded on the 7^th day of fermentation at 5% sugarcane extract concentration, where Aspergillus niger was used as inoculum. The present findings reveal that sugarcane extract can be used as effective alternate carbon source for SCP production.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Nil

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: Nil

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    How to cite this article:

    Kumari PVK, Rao YS, Vaishnavi VR and Sowjanya D: Production of single cell protein from sugarcane using fungi. Int J Pharm Sci Res 2018; 9(3): 1213-17.doi: 10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.9(3).1213-17.

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