Cost-effective production and characterization of prodigiosin: a promising candidate for antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial and fabric staining applications.

Prodigiosin is naturally synthesized red pigment derived from Serratia marcescens. The present study probes into one-step cost-effective production, characterization as well as in vitro antioxidant and anticancer activity. The statistical optimization of the surface area and moisture content of peanut oil cake as a solid substrate leads to a fifty-fold increase in prodigiosin production. Prodigiosin extracted from Serratia marcescens strain BAB 3285 was purified in acidified methanol and further characterized by HPLC and LC-MS/MS to confirm its purity, integrity, and molecular mass. The pigment demonstrated strong free radical scavenging potential, effective staining properties across diverse fabric types, and significant inhibitory activity against infectious organisms, including clinical dermatophytic fungi and bacterial pathogens. Furthermore, antiproliferative assays revealed IC50 values of 134 ± 1.7 µM against the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line and 397 ± 7.9 µM against the normal fibroblast cell line, indicating selective cytotoxicity. Further, saleable cost comparison for 1 mg of purified prodigiosin obtained from present study compared to conventional media, modified media I and modified media II in the reported study are ∼2713.11 INR (∼32.6$), ∼20,302.46 INR (∼243.96$), 9,229.41 INR (∼110.91$) and 14,502.66 INR (∼174.27$) respectively. The economic gain achieved as well as potential activities in the present study is remarkable which can be further upscale and commercialized for industrial production.