One structure, multiple features: The phycocyanin in biotechnology

Abstract

Phycocyanine (PC) is a water-soluble, non-toxic and bioactive (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, etc.) phycobiliprotein isolated, mainly, from cyanobacteria. Due to its several properties, PC is considered to be a rising biomolecule for Industrial exploitation, and has become an important research axis in order to promote its production, and optimize its biotechnological applications. The aim of this review article was to discuss the basic, and recent properties and applications of PC, and to bring together data on various aspects of PC stabilization, and PC nanopar-ticles formulation. In addition, an overview of the main structural characteristics and process-ses of PC extraction and purification were also discussed. The recent scientific research findings concluded that PC is a promising both functional, and bioactive additive in industry, especially, in food as a dye, in imaging as a fluorescent labeling agent, and in the phar-maceutical and nano-pharmaceutical field as a bioactive molecule and nanopar-ticles, particularly, due to it antitumor capacity. Phycocyanine is, thus, a promising bio-active molecules in pharmacological, and medical fields.

Dyes Are the Rainbow of Our Health

“…They also have the ability to reduce lipid peroxidation, which is a process that can lead to cellular damage. Additionally, phycocyanins have been shown to possess immunomodulatory effects, further contributing to their antioxidant properties [94]. These findings suggest that phycocyanins can act as neuroprotective agents and have potential therapeutic applications in the treatment of various diseases associated with oxidative stress and inflammation.…”

“…These compounds regulate the patterns of protein synthesis and participate in the GRB2-ERK1/2 pathway, which is accountable for impeding the proliferation of melanoma cells [103]. Moreover, phycocyanins that have been extracted from spirulina, which is a type of cyanobacterium, have been utilized in the manufacturing of soap that generates foam due to its anti-inflammatory and tissue-preserving attributes [94]. In summary, phycocyanins, which are phycobiliproteins, possess water solubility and bioactivity, and exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor characteristics.…”