Antioxidant Potential and Capacity of Microorganism-Sourced C30 Carotenoids—A Review

Abstract

Carotenoids are lipophilic tetraterpenoid pigments produced by plants, algae, arthropods, and certain bacteria and fungi. These biologically active compounds are used in the food, feed, and nutraceutical industries for their coloring and the physiological benefits imparted by their antioxidant properties. The current global carotenoid market is dominated by synthetic carotenoids; however, the rising consumer demand for natural products has led to increasing research and development in the mass production of carotenoids from alternative natural sources, including microbial synthesis and plant extraction, which holds a significant market share. To date, microbial research has focused on C40 carotenoids, but studies have shown that C30 carotenoids contain similar—and in some microbial strains, greater—antioxidant activity in both the physical and chemical quenching of reactive oxygen species. The discovery of carotenoid biosynthetic pathways in different microorganisms and advances in metabolic engineering are driving the discovery of novel C30 carotenoid compounds. This review highlights the C30 carotenoids from microbial sources, showcasing their antioxidant properties and the technologies emerging for their enhanced production. Industrial applications and tactics, as well as biotechnological strategies for their optimized synthesis, are also discussed.

Study on the Cellular Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Torularhodin Produced by Sporidiobolus pararoseus ZQHL Isolated from Vinegar Fungus

“…Animals cannot synthesize carotenoids directly on their own and must obtain them from food. Microbial production of carotenoids has unique economic advantages and industrial application prospects compared to the extraction of carotenoid pigments from plants and vegetables [ 16 ]. Therefore, source screening of carotenoid-producing microbial strains is also important.…”

Involvement of Versatile Bacteria Belonging to the Genus Arthrobacter in Milk and Dairy Products

“…Until now, approximately 1100 carotenoids from different organisms have been identified and classified based on the number of carbons in their carotene backbones [ 48 ]. Most of the natural carotenoids are subjected to the symmetric C 40 backbone while a small number of C 30 and C 50 carotenoids have been classified [ 49 , 50 ].…”

Computational Insight into Intraspecies Distinctions in Pseudoalteromonas distincta: Carotenoid-like Synthesis Traits and Genomic Heterogeneity

“…In general, marine pigmented bacteria are known to be a promising source of melanins and carotenoids as natural high antioxidant efficiency compounds with rare structures, as well as a plethora of other highly specific secondary metabolites with biotechnology and therapy applications [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Carotenoids are isoprenoid derivatives, characterized by a polyene chain (C30, C40, or C50), with conjugated double bonds providing distinctive absorption patterns and coloration.…”

“…A lot of marine bacterial pigments were investigated for antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-HSV-1, anticancer, antidiabetic, and wound healing activities, indicating their potential biomedical applications as well as food, feed, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical formulations [ 8 , 9 , 12 ]. In addition, the natural marine pigments and other secondary metabolites could be used as “green chemistry” to replace synthetic compounds [ 11 , 12 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ].…”