Production of β‐Cryptoxanthin, a Provitamin‐A Precursor, by Flavobacterium Lutescens

  Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is the leading cause of preventable blindness in children and raises the risk of disease and death from severe infections. Some plant foods contain darkly colored pigments with provitamin A activity (α‐carotene, β‐carotene, and β‐cryptoxanthin) that can be converted to vitamin A. In this work, a process is described for β‐cryptoxanthin production by Flavobacterium lutescens ITCB008 using fermentation technology. The critical process variables associated with batch fermentation production in a stirred vessel were evaluated and quantified based on experimental design strategies. An ad hoc mathematical model was constructed and used to identify the operating conditions (agitation 190 rpm, aeration 0.086 VVM [air volume/broth volume per minute], and temperature 27.6 °C, pH 7.3) that maximized β‐cryptoxanthin synthesis (770 mg of β‐cryptoxanthin/kg biomass; dry weight) in a short processing time (28 h). In addition, downstream‐processing studies were performed revealing that extraction of β‐cryptoxanthin can be achieved with a polar solvent that produces cell lysis, such as methanol or ethanol, in only 1 step. High performance liquid chromatography analysis showed that β‐cryptoxanthin represents nearly 95% of the total carotenoid content in the obtained product. The process described could be a commercial alternative for producing β‐cryptoxanthin additives, as supplement in food formulation, thus assisting VAD prevention.