Abstract

In the cosmetics industry, using biological alternatives has become necessary to enhance product attributes and replace chemicals in the formulation. Yellow pigment-producing actinobacteria was isolated from the limestone-rich soils of the Ariyalur region, Tamil Nadu. The production of pigment was further amplified by the use of fermentation techniques; extraction, purification, and characterization of the pigment molecules were determined along with the depiction of the bioactive capacity of the pigment. Characterization involves the separation of the microbial pigment into different fractions for the identification of other key players in the bioactivity as well as the pigmentation. The spectrographic data and optical inferences were compared with the available literature to establish confirmation. The pigment was tested for its bioactivity against bacteria yielding interesting results; a 9.33 +/- 0.47 mean zone of inhibition was observed to be the most prominent against Escherichia coli at a concentration of 100 mu g/ml. The radical scavenging potential of the pigment was also assessed, yielding an IC50 value of 85.40 mu g/ml indicating the therapeutic potential of the pigment as well. The pigment was further used for the preparation of a bio lip balm to incorporate the therapeutic effect as well as the coloration of the product; it was observed that the end product obtained was able to retain the coloration and the product remained stable and consistent throughout the period of testing; however, further investigation is needed to determine the innate bio-potential of the product. The potential actinobacteria was further identified to be Streptomyces albidoflavus by morphological and molecular approaches of characterization using the 16S rRNA technique. This present study highlights the potential use of bio-pigments derived from actinobacteria against traditional chemically synthesized pigments.