PURPOSE: To decompose and decolor melanin using Basidonycetes having melanin decomposing property.
CONSTITUTION: Melanin is decomposed and decolored by bringing melanin into contact with a microbial cell of Basidonycetes having melanin decomposing property, its cultured material and/or its treated material in-vivo or in-vitro. The reaction system is kept in a state where nitrogen is limited (under nitrogen source-free conditions or conditions reduced to as small amount of nitrogen as possible) in contact with melamine and combined use of glucose is further effective in this time. As necessary, the reaction system may be incubated at 10-45°C for a required time. When a microorganism cultured in a culture medium previously containing melanin and/or its precursor under conditions where nitrogen is limited, further good result is obtained. The usable microorganism contains wood-destroying fungus having melanin-decomposability, e.g. NK-1148 strain (FERM BP-1859). This microorganism can be utilized for the production of skin-whitening cosmetics for the treatment of stain and ephelis as well as decoloring of melanin-containing industrial products.
NISHIDA TOMOAKI
TAKAHARA YOSHIMASA
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