The production of niacin by microorganisms isolated from fermenting corn meal

Abstract

Twenty-eight microorganisms, which were isolated from a natural fermentation of corn meal, were screened for niacin production in Difco niacin assay medium. Bacillus licheniformis strains 6, 9, and 10 grew in the synthetic medium free from niacin, indicating that these strains are indeed able to synthesize niacin. The amount of niacin was assayed according to a microbiological assay procedure using Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014 as the assay organism. The three strains of B. licheniformis produced almost the same amount of niacin. When corn meal was fermented with pure cultures of B. licheniformis strains 9 and 10, the niacin content significantly (p<0.05) increased as compared to the nonfermented corn meal. Strain 10 produced the largest quantity of niacin in fermented corn meal at pH 7 and 35°C.