Biomedical Potential of Hyaluronic Acid from Streptococcus zooepidemicus Produced in Sugarcane Molasses

Abstract

Hyaluronic acid is a polymer with many biomedical applications with high production costs if obtained by fermentation. However, the use of agroindustry byproducts can improve the commercial viability. The aims of this work were to optimize the production of hyaluronic acid by Streptococcus zooepidemicus in sugarcane molasses medium supplemented with nutrients and to analyze the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid production was greater in molasses (0.710 gL -1 ) than in glucose (0.469 gL -1 ). Only glutamine exhibited positive effects on production (0.843 gL -1 ) in Erlenmeyer flasks. Using a bioreactor under 100 rpm agitation, production was three times greater than in flasks (2.55 gL -1 ) and no differences were observed at higher agitation rates of 300 rpm. Hyaluronic acid produced presented with approximately 40 % (1 gL -1 ) of antioxidant activity but did not show antimicrobial activity. Hyaluronic acid produced in molasses could be used in formulations as an antioxidant.