Abstract

The fungi are attributed many benefits on human health, such as medicinal plants. Not all are poisonous or edible, there are other important uses. In this article, the property of fungi to obtain natural pigments is highlighted. The dyes obtained from microorganisms have the advantage of being pigments with specific shades, without harmful effects for health and with multiple economic benefits at an industrial level. This research aimed to obtain natural pigments (carotenoids specifically) for use in animals from two fungi: Pycnoporus sanguineus and Rhodotorula spp. P. sanguineus is found as red-orange fruiting bodies, it has been studied mainly to degrade lignin and wood cellulose and for the production of cinnabarin (antibiotic). In the case of Rhodotorula spp is a yeast, its colonies are characterized by being bright orange, has been studied for the presence of carotenoids. In the laboratory, they were isolated and purified on solid media, liquid media tests were carried out that favored their growth and production of the dye, and scaling was carried out to obtain the highest biomass and, therefore, the pigment. The fungi were lyophilized, cells were ruptured with liquid nitrogen and sieved, obtaining a fine powder that was given to the animals as part of their diet, with which it was possible to increase the egg yolk coloration, from 12 to 14 of tonality, according to the yellow fan.

Keywords: Mushrooms; medicinal uses; pigments