Supplement comprising of laccase and citric acid as an alternative for antibiotics: In vitro triggers of melanin production

• Published in: Engineering in life sciences 2018-06, Vol.18 (6), p.359-367
• Main Authors: Chaali, Mona, Lecka, Joanna, Suresh, Gayatri, Salem, Mabrouka, Brar, Satinder Kaur, Hernandez‐Galan, Leticia, Sévigny, Jean, Avalos‐Ramirez, Antonio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Citric acid; Human colon cells; Laccase; Melanin; Yeast
• ISSN: 1618-0240; 1618-2863
• DOI: 10.1002/elsc.201700160

An indiscriminate use of antibiotics in humans and animals has led to the widespread selection of antibiotic‐resistance, thus constricting the use of antibiotics. A possible solution to counter this problem could be to develop alternatives that can boost the host immunity, thus reducing the quantity and frequency of antibiotic use. In this work, for the first time, citric acid and laccase were used as extracellular inducers of melanin production in yeast cells and human cell lines. It is proposed that the formulation of laccase and citric acid together could further promote melatonin‐stimulated, melanocyte‐derived melanin production. Melanization as a probe of immunity described in this study, is an easy and a rapid test compared to other immunity tests and it allows performing statistical analyses. The results showed the synergistic effect of citric acid and laccase on melanin production by yeast cells, with significant statistical differences compared to all other tested conditions (p: 0.0005–0.005). Laccase and citric acid together boosted melanin production after 8 days of incubation. An increase in melanin production by two human colon cells lines (Cacao‐2/15 and HT‐29) was observed on supplementation with both laccase and citric acid in the cell growth medium. Produced melanin showed antimicrobial properties similar to antibiotics. Therefore, a formulation with citric acid and laccase may prove to be an excellent alternative to reduce the antibiotic use in human and animal subjects.