Exploring the bioactive potential of Serriatia marcescens VITAPI (Acc: 1933637) isolated from soil

Abstract

BACKGROUND:Serratia is one of the most important groups of bacteria which produces proteolytic enzymes effectively and known to possess anti-inflammatory properties. The main focus of the current study was to extract the enzyme serratiopeptidase and pigment prodigiosin from Serratia mascescens. Prodigiosin is a red colored pigment produced by the bacterium Serratia marcescens. It is emerging as a valuable molecule because of its large applications. It has already been proved that pigmented strain of Serratia marcescens is less virulent than non-pigmented strains. Moreover the strain we have obtained is from farm soil which indicates that prodigiosin production can be carried safely using this strain.

METHODS: In the present study, the isolate VITASP strain was confirmed by morphological, biochemical and molecular studies. The enzyme and pigment were analyzed for anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic properties.

RESULTS: The isolate was further confirmed and identified as Serratia marcescens with 99% similarity. The extracted pigment showed potent radical scavenging effect with 86% and the enzyme was found to inhibit 83%, which was significant in comparison to ascorbic acid standard. The in vitro anti-inflammatory effect of pigment in controlled experimental conditions revealed its protection at 88% and the enzyme with 90%. Aspirin was used as the reference drug. The present findings exhibited a concentration dependent inhibition. The cytotoxic bioassay of pigment showed the IC₅₀ value as (50) µg/mL with 63% cytotoxicity which was statistically significant compared to positive control.

CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, it appears to be an essential remedial and application research. It may turn out to be highly beneficial to mankind in solving many problems associated with human health.

Keywords

Serratia mascescens / prodigiosin / serratiopeptidase / bioactivity

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Acknowledgements

We are greatly indebted to Vellore Institute of Technology for the constant encouragement, help and support for extending necessary facilities.

Compliance with ethics guidelines

Aruna Muthukumar, Pallavi Pradeep, Isha Thigale, Mohanasrinivasan V., Jemimah Naine S., C. Subathra Devi declare that they have no conflict of interest. This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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2016 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg