Biography
Biography: Donna Christene Q. Ramos
Abstract
The effect of vegetable oils as supplementary carbon source during the production of lovastatin by Aspergillus niger in submerged culture was investigated. This study was conducted to know what incubation period (5, 7, 9, or 12 days) yields the maximum lovastatin concentration and to compare which vegetable oil (coconut, corn or soybean) and what concentration (0.5 or 2%, v/v) give the highest yield of lovastatin. Lovastatin concentrations were determined by UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Results showed that maximum lovastatin yield was achieved on the 7th day of incubation with 3127.94 μg mL-1. Among the three oils, corn oil significantly improved lovastatin production. Lovastatin production in coconut oil, corn oil, and soybean oil were differed significantly during the 5th and 7th day incubation. Extending the incubation period resulted in no significant differences among the oils tested. Oil concentration of 0.5% (v/v) resulted in higher yield of lovastatin. There was a significant difference between 0.5 and 2% (v/v), on the 7th and 12th day incubation. Increasing oil concentration to 2% (v/v) gave lower yields of lovastatin. Thus, corn oil appears to be a good adjuvant for improving lovastatin productivity.