Shelf Life Studies of Carotenoid Pigments Produced from Rhodotorula minuta

Aim: Storage stability of carotenoid pigment (extracellular and intracellular) extracted from Rhodotorula minuta grown in Malt Yeast Extract Broth (MYEB), coconut water and rice was studied for a period of 15 days at ambient temperature (29°C) and refrigeration temperature i.e. 4°C with respect to absorbance at 520 nm at 5 days interval.

Methods and Results: Rhodotorula minuta RAI3 obtained from air of dairy environment was used in shelf life study of the carotenoid pigment. The yeast culture was maintained on Malt Yeast Extract Agar (MYEA) slant and working culture in Malt Yeast Extract Broth (MYEB) with incubation at 30°C for 3-5 days. Color of pigment was stable both at ambient temperature (29°C) and refrigeration temperature (4°C) for 15 days of the study with A520 of 0.420, 0.140, 0.10 and 0.090 and 0.412, 0.320, 0.270 and 0.189 extracellular in MYEB, coconut water, and rice.

Conclusion: Storage stability for 15 days both at the ambient temperature (29°C) and the refrigeration temperature (4°C) was noticed during storage of the extra and intracellular pigment of Rhodotorula minutaRAI3.

Significance and Impact of the Study: The present study aided in understanding storage stability of extra and intracellular pigments extracted from Rhodotorula minuta both at the ambient temperature (29°C) and the refrigeration temperature (4°C) for 15 days.