Production of tacrolimus using coconut oil as an alternative to glucose

Abstract

Tacrolimus is an immunosuppressant used in the treatment of people who have undergone organ and tissue transplants, as well as in the treatment of dermatoses and eye diseases. Strategies have been carried out to increase the productivity of tacrolimus, since many compounds have in their composition tacrolimus precursors, and bacteria Streptomyces depend on a carbon source for their growth. One strategy is to change the carbon source of the fermentation medium. The present study aims to evaluate the use of coconut oil for the production of tacrolimus via Streptomyces tsukubaensis, as an alternative in the face of glucose, a traditional source of carbon. The batch fermentation process was done in an orbital shaker at 28°C and 130 rpm. Quantification of tacrolimus was performed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The sugars and proteins, present in the medium, were measured from Somogyi-Nelson and Bradford methods, respectively. According to the results, coconut oil achieved the production of tacrolimus higher than glucose. This is due to the presence of a portion of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids that act as precursors to tacrolimus. On the other hand, glucose is a quick carbon source for the bacteria and helps in its growth, but in high amounts it inhibits the production of the drug.