What is Aspergillus Niger?
How can something which is able to cause serious diseases be transformed by science into a beneficial product? With today’s technology, the dangerous properties of a fungus can be turned into additives, via fermentation, that are good for us! Aspergillus Niger is one such fungus that is regularly used to enhance food products and even medicines!
What is Aspergillus Niger? It is a fungus that can cause black mold on plants, such as fruits (grapes) and vegetables (onions). It can be dangerous to humans in sufficient quantities if inhaled, causing severe lung problems. Field workers who use peat can get sufficient Aspergillus Niger spores by inhalation to cause chronic lung disease, Aspergillosis. It can also cause fungal ear infections and ultimate damage to ear canal and tympanic membrane.
When archaeologists started opening ancient Egyptian tombs, the Aspergillus Niger spores often became disturbed when fresh air entered the tombs and were inhaled by the first people to enter. It caused illness and was even fatal to some of them. Masks are now worn to prevent the contamination.
Aspergillus Niger is often cultured for the industrial production of citric acid (E330) and gluconic acid (E574) and has been determined as acceptable for daily human usage by the World Health Organization. In 2006 it was found that secretions RNase produced by Aspergillus Niger known as actibind has antiangiogenic and anticarcinogenic properties.
Aspergillus Niger is also cultured to extract the enzymes glucose oxidase (GO) and Alpha-galactosidase (AGS). Glucose oxidase is used to create glucose biosensors, because of its strong affinity for β-D-glucose. Alpha-galactosidase is produced as Aspergillus Niger ferments and can be used to hydrolyze alpha 1-6 bonds which is found in melibiose, raffinose, and stachyose.
At the height of the opium trade, chandoo opium, the type that was used for smoking, was created by lengthy fermentation of Aspergillus Niger as well as other molds on the raw opium.
Pu-erh tea is made with Aspergillus Niger as the primary agent in the fermentation process.
To most people the terms fungus and mold don’t sound very appealing. But with the right treatment of molds and fungi, they can be used to improve our eating habits, medical care and make life better for everyone. What was once considered valuable for the opium trade and poisonous to farmers is now being used, via science and technology, to help mankind. Fermentation is the most common method.