Enhanced Versatile Peroxidase Production by Pleurotus eryngii Using Saccharide- and Fatty Acid-Rich Agro-Industrial Waste in Solid-State Fermentation

Ligninolytic enzymes have attracted considerable attention in recent years due to their potential for various applications in the industrial, biotechnological, and environmental researches. Versatile peroxidase is especially important owing to its broad substrate specificity and catalytic versatility. It is produced through solid-state fermentation using agro-industrial waste as growth medium. Here, we investigated various agro-industrial waste types as alternative low-cost, easily available inducers of versatile peroxidase production from Pleurotus eryngii. Peels of fruits and vegetables, bean dregs, used tea leaves, old newspapers, and dyes were evaluated. We report that 600 mg (w/w) of banana peel, 480 mg (w/w) of corn husk, or 480 mg (w/w) of oat bran per 6 g of wheat bran increased versatile peroxidase production by 2.98-, 2.78-, and 2.34-fold, respectively, compared with those in control samples. H2O2 content and total antioxidant capacity were clearly higher and inhibition of hydroxyl radical was clearly lower in medium supplemented with banana peel, corn peel, or oat bran than that in medium containing wheat bran only. These results suggest that the improved antioxygenation of Pleurotus eryngii by those inducers had a positive effect on versatile peroxidase production. Banana peel, corn peel, and oat bran are saccharide- and fatty acid-rich and effective inducers of versatile peroxidase production from Pleurotus eryngii. Taken together, our results indicate that agro-industrial waste rich in saccharides and fatty acids may be an effective alternative to expensive chemicals required for enhanced industrial versatile peroxidase production.