Effect of aqueous extracts of some plants of Lamiaceae family on the growth of Yarrowia lipolytica

Aqueous extracts of some plants belonging to the Lamiaceae family (Sideriti s montana, Origanum dictamnus. Mentha piperita. Rosmarinus officinallis and Origanum marjorana) caused an important increase of the lag time of Yarrow ia lipolytica. Especially, Origanum dictamnus and Rosmarinus officinallis i s extracts enhanced the lag time considerably and influenced negatively the specific growth rate of this: yeast. In culture media having low C/N ratio . all plant extracts caused an increase of the biomass produced in relation to glucose acid nitrogen consumed. while, in high C/N ratio media the effe ct of the extracts on biomass production was negative. In the presence of a queous plant extracts, in low C/N ratio culture media. the ratio Sigma unsa turated/Sigma, saturated fatty acids in the cellular lipids increased, wher eas in high CIN ratio media it decreased. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. Al l rights reserved.