Abstract
Objective : Mevastain, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor produced by Penicillium citrinum. The Placket-Burman experimental design was used to identify the important nutrients influencing the production of mevastatin by Penicillium citrinum MTCC 1256 under submerged fermentation. Materials and Methods : Nine nutritional parameters, such as, glucose, glycerol, arrowroot, oats, urea, peptone, yeast extract, MgSO4.7H(2)O, and CaCl2.2H(2)O were screened by Placket-Burman experimental design in 12 experimental run. Results : Nine nutritional parameters, glucose, glycerol, arrowroot, oats, urea, peptone, yeast extract, MgSO4.7H(2)O, and CaCl2.2H(2)O contributed with 0.8114%, 24.0390%, 2.2786%, 0.1491%, 0.5608%, 47.5029%, 6.8092 %, 4.0980%, 10.5823% respectively towards mevastatin production by Penicillium citrinum under submerged fermentation. Conclusion : Among the nine nutrient components glycerol, peptone, yeast extract, MgSO4.7H(2)O, and CaCl2.2H(2)O contributed to a large extent, urea had little impact, while glucose, oats, and arrowroot contributed moderately on production of mevastatin.