Abstract

ENHANCED STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS PIGMENT FORMATION UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF GUM ACACIA

M. T. Nurjahan, Sneha Saha, Asha Ninan and Satadal Das*

ABSTRACT

Most Staphylococcus aureus strains produce the orange colored carotenoid pigment, staphyloxanthin. In this study we find an enhanced pigment formation of S. aureus in presence of gum acacia particularly after exposure to sunlight. This enhanced pigment formation was found at a concentration of 1g/dl and the pigment formation was decreased at 2g/dl concentration possibly due to antimicrobial action of gum at higher concentration. We have also tested another gum – gum tragacanth, but it did not show any changes of pigment formation in comparison to the controls. Thus we conclude that gum acacia at a concentration of 1g/dl may be used for enhanced pigment formation of S. aureus which may be used for commercial exploitation for production of carotenoids.

Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus, gum acacia, gum tragacanth, carotenoid pigment.