Antimicrobial Activity of Violet Pigment Produced by Janthinobacterium lividum Isolated from Yudemen

Studies on Protection of Microbiological Deterioration of Packaged Food Part XIV

Abstract

Violet pigment isolated from Janthinobacterium lividum was identified tentatively as violacein by spectrophotometric method. The absorption maximum of the pigment in 99.5% ethanol solution was 579nm and the minimum was 430nm. The violet color of this pigment discolored to green by acid and reddish brown by alkali. The antimicrobial activity of the pigment was investigated on 21 bacterial strains, encompassing 18 species in ranging from 20 to 200μg/10ml. The pigment was ineffective on 5 gram negative strains (4 species) and 1 strain of Bacillus (B. subtilis var. natto). The growth of Bacillus (11 strain, 8 species) and Micrococcus (2 strain, 2 species) were inhibited with addition of 20μg of pigment. The antimicrobial activitiy of the pigment on the above microorganisms was elevated by increasing a concentration of pigment in ranging from 20 to 200μg/10ml.