Fungal Biodegradation of Tannins from Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata) and Tar Bush (Fluorensia cernua) for Gallic and Ellagic Acid Production

Janeth Ventura¹, Ruth Belmares¹, Antonio Aguilera-Carbo², Gerardo Gutiérrez-Sanchez³, Raul Rodríguez-Herrera¹ and Cristóbal Noé Aguilar¹*

¹Food Research Department, School of Chemistry, Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, Saltillo, MX-25 000 Coahuila, Mexico
²Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Universidad Autónoma Agraria 'Antonio Narro', Buenavista, Saltillo, MX-25 000 Coahuila, Mexico
³Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, The University of Georgia, 315 Riverband Road, GA-30602-4712 Athens, USA

Article history:
Received July 11, 2006A
Accepted June 13, 2007

Key words:
Aspergillus niger PSH, creosote bush, tar bush, gallic acid, ellagic acid

Summary:
In the present work, the production of two potent antioxidants, gallic and ellagic acids, has been studied using solid-state fermentation (SSF) of tannin-rich aqueous plant extracts impregnated in polyurethane foam. Extracts from creosote and tar bush were inoculated with Aspergillus niger PSH spores and impregnated in the polyurethane support. The kinetics of the fermentation was monitored every 24 h. The maximum biodegradation of hydrolysable and condensed tannins was, respectively, 16 and 42 % in creosote bush, and 40 and 83 % in tar bush. The maximal productions of gallic and ellagic acid (152 and 177 %, respectively) were reached with aqueous extracts of creosote bush. Tar bush extracts inoculated with A. niger PSH spores produced only gallic acid (92 %), while ellagic acid was not recovered after the fermentation process. Results demonstrated the potential use of these plants as a source for the production of antioxidants.

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