Enhancement of the Stability and Solubility of Prodigiosin Using β-Cyclodextrin in Seawater

Abstract

This research was to examine the effects of various cyclodextrins on the solubility and stability of prodigiosin in seawater. Among them, β-cyclodextrin was found to have the best efficiency and formation of the inclusion complex was saturated when prodigiosin and β-cyclodextrin were mixed in a ratio of 1：8 and shaken at 25℃ and pH 8.0 for 6 h. The maximum algicidal activity against Chattonella antiqua using the inclusion complex stored at 4℃ for 5 weeks of culture was obtained, 52.28 ± 3.41%,which was about 5.0 fold higher than that of control. Our results suggest that inclusion complexes of prodigiosin and β-cyclodextrin could serve as effective algicidal agents.