Microalgal rainbow colours for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications

Abstract

Microalgae, one of the largest global primary producers, are a potential source of bioactive compounds. They are unique in producing superfine chemicals that can be used in various industrial sectors like pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals. The chapter is intended to provide an insight to two of the most important pigments obtained from them, phycobiliproteins and carotenoids having species specifi city which can be used as a chemotaxonomic marker. Their unique structural properties play a crucial role in their biological functions. The water-soluble phycobiliproteins are used as fluorescent tags in flow cytometry and immunochemistry, while liposoluble carotenoids are potential alternatives to synthetic dyes in the food industry.