Safety efficacy and chemical profiling of water-soluble Talaromyces purpureogenus CFRM02 pigment

Abstract Talaromyces purpureogenus CFRM02 pigments are non-toxic to Artemia franciscana. Further, in acute toxicity study, single dose (50, 300, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg body weight) pigment was administered to female Wistar rats. After 14 days, no evidence of adverse effect on body weight, mortality and clinical signs were observed. Similarly, 28 days sub-acute studies (250–1000 mg/kg body weight) showed no significant changes in food intake, body weight gain and relative weight of vital organs. No signs of toxicity on biochemical, hematological parameters. Histopathological examination of the liver and kidney were normal. There were no marked changes in any of the serum enzymes activities. There were no significant changes in treated and control group (acute and sub-acute). The HRMS data revealed the identification of purpuride, PP-O, PP-R, pentalsamonin, puractin-A, arginine-monascorubrin, purpurquinone-A, ankaflavin, purpactin-C. These results confirmed safety efficacy of T. purpureogenus CFRM02 pigment and suggested applications in food and nutraceuticals.