Uncovering Potential Applications of Cyanobacteria and Algal Metabolites in Biology, Agriculture and Medicine: Current Status and Future Prospects

Abstract

Cyanobacteria and algae having complex photosynthetic systems can channelize absorbed solar energy into other forms of energy for production of food and metabolites. In addition, they are promising biocatalysts and can be used in the field of “white biotechnology” for enhancing the sustainable production of food, metabolites, and green energy sources such as biodiesel. In this review, an endeavor has been made to uncover the significance of various metabolites like phenolics, phytoene/terpenoids, phytols, sterols, free fatty acids, photoprotective compounds (MAAs, scytonemin, carotenoids, polysaccharides, halogenated compounds, etc.), phytohormones, cyanotoxins, biocides (algaecides, herbicides, and insecticides) etc. Apart from this, the importance of these metabolites as antibiotics, immunosuppressant, anticancer, antiviral, anti-inflammatory agent has also been discussed. Metabolites obtained from cyanobacteria and algae have several biotechnological, industrial, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic uses which have also been discussed in this review along with the emerging technology of their harvesting for enhancing the production of compounds like bioethanol, biofuel etc. at commercial level. In later sections, we have discussed genetically modified organisms and metabolite production from them. We have also briefly discussed the concept of bioprocessing highlighting the functioning of companies engaged in metabolites production as well as their cost effectiveness and challenges that are being addressed by these companies.

The Potential Use of Marine Microalgae and Cyanobacteria in Cosmetics and Thalassotherapy

“…Another field of interest is the production of phytohormones, as it has been demonstrated that different genus of cyanobacteria and algae accumulate and release a diverse group of phytohormones that are involved in plant growth and development [48]. Phytohormones, including auxin, abscisic acid, cytokinin, ethylene (ET), and gibberellins, have been found in a broad spectrum of microalgal lineages.…”

“…It is also worth mentioning the research in obtaining micosporine-like amino acids from cyanobacteria [51], which are similar to those obtained from macroalgae, for their potential use in sunscreens; and other photo-protective compounds such as scytonemin (a dimer of indolic and phenolic subunits), which is capable of reducing the risk of damage caused by UV light [48].…”

Changes of indicators of the oxidative status of rats in experimentaltype 2 diabetes and their correction by a selenium-chrome-lipid substances from Chlorella vulgaris Beij

“…Ефективність використання мікроелементів організмом визначається рівнем збалансованос ті раціонів щодо поживних і біологічно активних речовин, ступенем засвоєння, депонування та взаємодії мікроелементів між собою [4,8].…”

“…Останнім часом як джерела селену і мікроелементів почали ви-користовувати одноклітинні фотосинтезувальні водорості [9], що як самі є джерелом біологіч но активних речовин, утворених за рахунок внут рішньоклітинного біосинтезу, так і можуть погли-нати та накопичувати екзогенні мікроелементи, включаючи їх до складу, насамперед, пігментів, білків і ліпідів [8].…”

Integrated biorefinery fromArthrospira platensisbiomass as feedstock for bioethanol and lactic acid production

“…The cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis is an outstanding sunlight-driven cell factory that has the ability to convert carbon dioxide into high added value metabolites (Singh et al, 2017). This photosynthetic cyanobacterium have received much attention for high value metabolites such as α-tocopherol, β-carotene, lutein and γ-linolenic acid (Esquivel-Hernández et al, 2016;Sosa-Hernández et al, 2019) and bioactive effects such as antiproliferative, antitumor, antifungal, antibacterial, antimalarial, antiviral, antimycotic, cytotoxicity, multi-drug resistance reversers and immunosuppressive agents (Dixit & Suseela, 2013;Ediriweera et al, 2017;Kumari et al, 2011).…”