Recent progression of cyanobacteria and their pharmaceutical utility: an update

Abstract

Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) are Gram-negative photosynthetic eubacteria that are found everywhere. This largest group of photosynthetic prokaryotes is rich in structurally novel and biologically active compounds; several of which have been utilized as prospective drugs against cancer and other ailments, as well. Consequently, the integument of nanoparticles-synthetic approaches in cyanobacterial extracts should increase pharmacological activity. Moreover, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are small materials with diameters below 100 nm that are classified into different classes based on their forms, sizes, and characteristics. Indeed, the biosynthesized AgNPs are generated with a variety of organisms, algae, plants, bacteria, and a few others, for the medicinal purposes, as the bioactive compounds of curio and some proteins from cyanobacteria have the potentiality in the treatment of a wide range of infectious diseases. The critical focus of this review is on the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties of cyanobacteria. This would be useful in the pharmaceutical industries in the future drug development cascades.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Keywords:

• Cyanobacteria
• silver-nanoparticles
• bioactive compounds
• biological activities
• applications

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Dean, Prof. G. Sahoo, Institute of Medical Sciences & SUM Hospital, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India for the necessary facilities. This is work supported by Siksha “O” Anusandhan Deemed to be University, with the PhD Fellowship of A. K. Bishoyi (Regd. No.1981611008/2019). CR Sahoo is an ICMR-SRF (No. 45/3/2020-DDI/BMS).

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this manuscript.

Author contributions

A.K. Bishoyi: conceptualization, formal analysis, data curation, collected literature data, wrote and edited the manuscript. C.R. Sahoo: conceptualization, formal analysis, data curation, collected literature data, wrote and edited the manuscript. RN Padhy: supervision, writing-reviewing and editing.