Thermostable pectinase mediated enhanced antimicrobial activity of Emblica Officinalis: A novel application

Abstract

Four efficient pectinase producing thermophiles were isolated from Unhala hot water spring (16°35' N, 73°30' E) of Rajapur located in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. The isolates were identified as <em>Bacillus licheniformis,</em> <em>Bacillus cereus,</em> <em>Bacillus Firmus, and Bacillus brevis </em>using morphological and biochemical techniques. Being an efficient pectinase producer, <em>Bacillus licheniformis</em> was selected for pectinase production and further identified using 16s rRNA molecular analysis and sequence was deposited to GenBank nucleotide repository under accession number KT373817. Pectinase produced by <em>Bacillus licheniformis </em>using optimized condition was partially purified and molecular weight was determined as 66kda. Characterization of partially purified pectinase was carried out where it showed remarkable pectinolytic activity at 80^oC temperature and pH 10.0. The extracted pectinase showed stability in presence of solvents and surfactants such as chloroform, ethanol, butanol, acetone, Tween-80 and Triton X-100 at 1% (v/v) concentration. Enhanced pectinolytic activity was observed in presence of Fe³⁺ions (10 mM). Increase in antimicrobial activity of amla (<em>Emblica Officinalis</em>) was recorded after treatment with partially purified pectinase as a novel application for the first time.