Cyanobacterial and commercially important carotenoids: Biosynthesis, metabolic engineering, biological activities, applications, and processing

Abstract

In view of their broad color variation and superior antioxidant activity, carotenoids are widely used in the food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and feed industries. Cyanobacteria are well-known producers of commercially important carotenoids, such as β-carotene and zeaxanthin. Furthermore, metabolic engineering of cyanobacteria for the production of valuable carotenoids, such as astaxanthin and lutein, has garnered significant interest in recent years because it offers the advantages of simple cultivation, harvesting, and genetic manipulation. This chapter describes the potential of cyanobacteria as carotenoid producers, the applications of carotenoids, the biological activities exhibited by carotenoids (e.g., antioxidant, cardioprotective, and anticancer), and the recent progress in carotenoid processing technology (e.g., extraction, formulation, and isomerization).