Cicer arietinum (Bengal gram) husk as alternative for Talaromyces purpureogenus CFRM02 pigment production: Bioactivities and identification.

Fungus producing red pigment was identified as Talaromyces purpureogenus CFRM02. Agriculture by-product,
bengal gram husk (BegH) was used as substrate for fermentation. Red pigment characteristics were confirmed by
CIELAB and UV–vis spectrum. T. purpureogenus CFRM02 produced 0.565 Absorption Unit-AU mL−1 of red
pigment. Addition of peptone, glucose and trace elements to culture medium significantly improved (≈4 fold)
the pigment production. The extracted pigment showed radical scavenging (80%), reducing (1.2 OD) and metal
chelating activity (40%) and also inhibited food borne pathogens Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus
aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella typhimurium.
The pigment extracts were nontoxic to Artemia franciscana in a concentration range of 100–1000 μgmL−1.
Apparently, PP-R (m/z 426) and peniazaphilone-A (m/z 424), present in ethyl acetate extract, contributed for
significant biological activities. The BegH can be utilised for production of important biotechnological products
like bioactive pigments as a fermentative substrate.