Potential use of bacterial pigments as anticancer drugs and female reproductive toxicity: a review

Abstract

Natural bioactive compounds obtained from microorganisms have awakened particular interest in the industry in recent years. This attention comes when the depletion of natural resources is pronounced, and the acquisition of new inputs and bioactive products of plant origin represents a challenge for the next generations. In this sense, prospecting for the large-scale production and use of bacterial pigments has represented a necessary strategy for the development of novel products. A wide variety of properties have been attributed to these substances, among them, the therapeutic potential against important diseases, such as cancer. There is consensus that available chemotherapy protocols are known to detrimentally affect the fertility of cancer patients. A considerable part of the deleterious effects of chemotherapy is related to the cytotoxicity of the drugs used for this purpose, which, in addition to cancer cells, affect normal cells. In this sense, the intrinsic properties attributed to bacterial pigments associated with low cytotoxicity and relevant cell selectivity certified them as potential anticancer drugs. However, little information is available about the reproductive toxicity of these new and promising compounds. Thus, the present review aims to address the main bacterial pigments, their potential uses as anticancer drugs, and their possible toxic effects, especially on the female gonad.