Optimization of culture medium for production of melanin by Auricularia auricula

Melanin is a natural high molecular weight pigment with the huge application value and development potential in food industry. In the present study, medium composition for melanin production by fungus Auricularia auricula was investigated. Wheat bran extract, l-tyrosine, and CuSO4 were determined to optimize medium composition by response surface methodology with Box–Behnken design. Results indicated that the optimal medium composition was 26.80% (v/v) wheat bran extract, 1.59 g/L l-tyrosine, and 0.11 g/L CuSO4, and the maximum melanin yield was 519.54 mg/L. Melanin production through A. auricula fermentation avoided expensive enzymatic or complicated chemical methods for melanin extraction from tissues of plant or animal, which had the huge application value and development potential for efficient production of melanin.