Species within the genus
Aspergillus have a large chemical repertoire. Commodity products produced in
Aspergillus cell 'factories' include citric, gluconic, itaconic and kojic acid. The use of
Aspergillus niger in citric acid production dates back to 1917. Citric acid is one of the most widely used food ingredients. It also has found use in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries as an acidulant and for aiding in the dissolution of active ingredients. Other technical applications of citric acid are as a hardener in adhesive and for retarding the setting of concrete. Citric acid is a true 'bulk chemical' with an estimated production approximating more than 1.6 billion kg each year
A. niger also has found use in the industrial production of gluconic acid, which is used as an additive in certain metal cleaning applications, as well as for the therapy for calcium and iron deficiencies.
Aspergillus terreus is used for itaconic acid production, a synthetic polymer.
A. oryzae is fermented for kojic acid production which is used for skin whitening and as a precursor for synthesis of flavour enhancers.
Suggested reading: Microbial Production of BiopolymersSeveral
Aspergillus secondary metabolites also have major economic importance of which the statins and their derivatives are most profitable. These cholesterol lowering drugs are now among the mostly widely used medicines. The first statin, mevastatin from
Penicillium citrinum, was discovered in Japan. The first statin approved for human use, lovastatin, is a secondary metabolite isolated from
Aspergillus terreus. Lovastatin was sold under the brand named MevacorTM. The statins are merely one family of useful, biologically-active secondary metabolites isolated from
Aspergillus. Other compounds with pharmacological activities include cholecystokinin and neurokinin antagonists, ion channel ligands, antifungal drugs and a host of other compounds.
Adapted from
An Overview of the Genus Aspergillus by
Joan W. Bennett writing in
Aspergillus: Molecular Biology and GenomicsFurther readingLabels: biotechnology