Stress influenced increase in phenolic content and radical scavenging capacity of Rhodotorula glutinis CCY 20-2-26

Rhodotorula glutinis CCY 20-2-26 when grown under controlled stress of either NaCl (1–5 %) or H2O2 (1–5 mM) on basal media exhibited a twofold increase in its total phenolic contents. The radical scavenging capacities (RSCs) as determined by ABTS test were found to be highest in 4 mM H2O2 (1.44 mM TEAC mg 1) and 4 % NaCl (1.13 mM TEAC mg 1) as compared to control samples (0.41 mM TEAC mg 1). Similarly, the RSCs as determined by DPPH test were also highest in 4 % NaCl (1.83 mM TEAC mg 1) and 4 mM H2O2 (1.78 mM TEAC mg 1) compared to control (0.48 TEAC mg 1). The relative RSCs from EPR spin-trapping assay for H2O2-stressed cultures were highest in 1 mM H2O2 (56.1 μM TEAC g 1) whereas in NaCl-stressed cultures it was highest in 5 % NaCl (44.6 μM TEAC g 1) as compared to control (30.9 μM TEAC g 1). Five phenolic compounds (gallic acid, benzoic acid, catechin, caffeic acid and ferulic acid) were detected for the first time in R. glutinis CCY 20-2-26.