Method for production of arachidonic acid
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to a process for producing arachidonic acid. In one embodiment, Mortierella sect. schmuckeri microorganisms are cultured in fermentation medium, preferably containing a component of a complex nitrogen source. Further disclosed is a food product which includes Mortierella sect. schmuckeri microorganisms or lipid isolated from such microorganisms to enhance the arachidonic acid content of the food product.
1. A method of recovering arachidonic acid-containing lipids, comprising
culturing microorganisms of the genus Mortierella sect. schmuckeri in a fermentation medium,
harvesting the microorganisms,
recovering lipids from the microorganisms, and
removing impurities from the recovered lipids, whereby arachidonic acid-containing lipids are recovered; wherein said Mortierella sect. schmuckeri produces at least about 0.70 grams of arachidonic acid per liter per day when grown under appropriate fermentation conditions.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the harvested microorganisms are dried.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the harvested microorganisms are ruptured.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising breaking or lysing the microoganisms.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said Mortierella sect. schmuckeri is of the species Mortierella schmuckeri.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said Mortierella sect. schmuckeri is of the species Mortierella camargensis.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the recovering comprises extraction with a solvent selected from the group consisting of chloroform, hexane, methylene chloride, methanol, isopropol and ethyl acetate.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the solvent extract is evaporated to produce a sample of concentrated lipid material.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of removing impurities from the recovered lipids comprises separating arachidonic acid from other lipids.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the separating comprises chilling the lipids such that the saturated fatty acids in the lipids precipitate out while the arachidonic acid remains in solution.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the removing impurities is selected from the group consisting of degumming, bleaching, filtering, deodorizing, polishing and combinations of the foregoing.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said Mortierella sect. schmuckeri produces at least about 0.80 grams of arachidonic acid per liter per day when grown under appropriate fermentation conditions.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said Mortierella sect. schmuckeri produces at least about 0.86 grams of arachidonic acid per liter per day when grown under appropriate fermentation conditions.