Aspergillus sp. as a potential producer for L-Asparaginase from mangrove (Avicennia germinans)

L-asparaginase, (EC 3.5.1.1) is an important enzyme for food and non-food industries. In food industry, it is used to inhibit the formation of acrylamide compounds. In non-food industry, it can be used as anticancer agent. The objective of this study was to obtain L-asparaginase-producing fungi from mangroves, Avicennia germinans.. The first step of this research was to isolate and screen L-asparaginase-producing fungi. The second step was to identify the species by using macroscopically and microscopically method. Nine fungal isolates were successfully isolated. Four isolates, P2, D1, B4, A4 were L-asparaginase positive. The D1 isolate had the highest activity. Based on macroscopic and microscopic analysis result, it can be concluded that the D1 is Aspergillus sp. This finding is the first report on the fungal endophytic fungi from mangrove (Avicennia germinans) which produced L-asparaginase.