Biological application of bacterial pigments
Microorganism (fungi, yeasts and bacteria) are abundant in nature; the
advantages of pigment synthesis from microorganisms include easy and
rapid growth in a low-cost culture medium. Generally, bacterial pigments
are used in cosmetics, food, pharmaceuticals and textile industries.
Microbes producing natural colour molecules such as
bacteriochlorophylls, carotenoids, flavins, indigoids, melanins,
phenazines, monazines, prodigiosin, quinones, and violacein use them as
by-products. The major requirements for various biotechnological
applications in commercial businesses are pigment resources, production
rate, transportation, pricing, sustainability, palatability, durability,
effectiveness, legislative and regulatory permission and customer demand
(C. H. Ramesh et al., 2017). Colourful and weather-resistant
pigment-producing microorganism carbon sources like red rice, wine and
red bean curd are used for the production of microbial pigments. For
example, microbial colourants are already used in the fish business to
increase the pink colour of farmed salmon (Soliev et al., 2011).The
usage of đť›˝- Carotene in vegetable oils as a solution or suspension in
margarine colouring, baked goods and emulsions used in prepared foods or
micro-encapsulated beadlets. It’s also used in drinks like orange juice,
confectionery and other ready-to-eat meals. Due to photosensitivity
associated with quinidine consumption, which absorbs the hazardous short
wavelength part of the light spectrum, carotenoids have been shown to
protect against genetic disorders like erythropoietic protoporphyria
(EPP) and erythema (skin reddening) (Kirti et al., 2014).
Prodigiosin is a critical bioactive compound with common applications in
the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and textile industries. Prodigiosin
has a broad range of biological activities, including antibacterial,
antifungal, and antimalarial properties (Y. Zhao et al., 2020). The
bacteria that produce prodigiosin and violacein offer strong defence and
deterrence against bacterivores like protozoa and worms, as well as
survival advantages against rivals and predators. They also offer
selection advantages versus other bacteria in the area. Cancer is the
world’s second greatest cause of death, and despite the development of
new therapies for specific malignancies, it remains as deadly as ever.
Prodigiosin has been shown to kill human cancer cell lines by a process
known as programmed cell death, or apoptosis. In addition to human lung
cancer cells, gastric cancer cells, multidrug-resistant breast cancer
cells, colorectal cancer cells, and glioblastoma multiform cancer cells
in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. This pigment has a suppressive effect
on T-cell proliferation while having no effect on B-cell proliferation
(Choi et al., 2021).
The UV absorption range of 290 to 320 nm was boosted by violacein,
indicating that adding it to other sunscreen components could boost the
protective factors (SPF). Aloevera leaf extract and Cucumis
sativus, both of which have photo protective properties are included as
well. The properties of violacein stated above suggest that it could be
used as a photo protectant in biomedical applications. The purple colour
of violacein, which is used in the textile industry, is a distinguishing
property of this pigment made from growing Chromobacterium andJanthinobacterium. It is a specific culture used for dyeing
fibrous materials and nylon textiles that has larvicidal and pupicidal
effects on some insects. By suppressing the growth of pathogenic fungus
and parasitic nematodes that cause plant damage, it was also effective
in controlling microdochium, stem rot, damping off fungus, and
damping-off of bean sprouts. Plant mycosis and plant-parasitic nematode
diseases can be prevented with insecticides containing violacein and its
derivatives (Choi et al., 2020).
Quinones are used for scent, flavour, defence, signalling, colour, and
energy transduction, as well as acting as an intermediary between a
plant and its environment. Antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant,
anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, laxative, anti-allergens, and anti-moth
activities of natural quinone components have found applications in
pharmacology for promoting cytoprotection in humans. It is also utilised
as histology stains and insect repellents, as well as in engineering and
technology for metallic corrosion protection, pH indicators, and
industrial colouring agents. Quinone dyes have been used as sensors,
pigments, inks, and dyes for leather, wood, medicine, food and textiles
as well as for histological staining, rust prevention on metal surfaces,
and increasing the conversion efficiency of solar cells (Dulo et al.,
2021).