Bioactive Metabolites Produced by Cyanobacteria for Growth Adaptation and Their Pharmacological Properties

Abstract

Cyanobacteria are the most abundant oxygenic photosynthetic organisms inhabiting various ecosystems on earth. As with all other photosynthetic organisms, cyanobacteria release oxygen as a byproduct during photosynthesis. In fact, some cyanobacterial species are involved in the global nitrogen cycles by fixing atmospheric nitrogen. Environmental factors influence the dynamic, physiological characteristics, and metabolic profiles of cyanobacteria, which results in their great adaptation ability to survive in diverse ecosystems. The evolution of these primitive bacteria resulted from the unique settings of photosynthetic machineries and the production of bioactive compounds. Specifically, bioactive compounds play roles as regulators to provide protection against extrinsic factors and act as intracellular signaling molecules to promote colonization. In addition to the roles of bioactive metabolites as indole alkaloids, terpenoids, mycosporine-like amino acids, non-ribosomal peptides, polyketides, ribosomal peptides, phenolic acid, flavonoids, vitamins, and antimetabolites for cyanobacterial survival in numerous habitats, which is the focus of this review, the bioactivities of these compounds for the treatment of various diseases are also discussed.

Algae: Study of Edible and Biologically Active Fractions, Their Properties and Applications

“…The concentration of vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, folic acid, and provitamin A in the biomass of C. vulgaris , S. elongates , and S. platensis is higher than that in higher terrestrial plants. Algae of the genera Nostoc and Microcystis accumulate vitamin B12 in large amounts [ 190 ].…”

Growth Optimization and Secondary Metabolites Evaluation of Anabaena variabilis for Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition Activity

“…As a source of neurochemicals, several studies have investigated the potential acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition role of cyanobacteria extracts and compounds. For example, methanolic extracts from Calothrix sp., Tolypothrix sp., Phormidium sp., and Geitlerinema splendidum exhibited reversible inhibition of AChE [ 3 ]. Anatoxin-a(s) produced by several cyanobacteria species has shown potent AChE inhibition activity [ 4 ].…”

Metagenome-Assembled Genome of Cyanocohniella sp. LLY From the Cyanosphere of Llayta, an Edible Andean Cyanobacterial Macrocolony

“…Cyanobacterial and microalgal biomasses have been consumed for centuries and Dunaliella, Chlorella and Arthrospira (in Africa and North America), and Nostoc (in Asia and South America) are documented sources of essential amino acids, vitamins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, phycobiliproteins, and secondary metabolites with diverse biotechnological applications [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16].…”