US8883461: Process for the production of violacein and its derivative deoxyviolacein containing bioactive pigment from Chromobacterium sp (MTCC 5522)

The invention discloses a process for producing purple-blue natural pigment containing violacein and its derivative (deoxyviolacein) using Chromobacterium sp. NIIST-CKK-01 (MTCC 5522, NCIM 5341; Genbank Accession No. FJ982784). The method comprises the steps of maintaining and growing the bacterium in a specific medium under defined conditions of pH, temperature and agitation. At the end of incubation, pigment and biomass is separated from the culture broth, pigment is recovered from the biomass through solvent extraction and finally pigment is concentrated by drying.