Microbial Pigments: Types, Production Methods, and Diverse Applications in Various Industries: A Review

Abstract

Microbial pigments represent a class of natural pigments with significant potential across diverse industries including food, textiles, dairy, cosmetics, marine applications, and medicine. These pigments are considered valuable due to their abundant resources, high production yield, low cost, ease of cultivation, adaptability to various environments, optimization, and stability. Additionally, they are eco-friendly, biodegradable, and free of harmful side effects. Microbial pigments have shown promise in treating various diseases due to their bioactive properties, such as antibacterial, anticancer, and immunosuppressive activities. This review explores the various types of microbial pigments, their sources, characteristics, production and their applications in various fields.