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Natural blue pigments and bikaverin
Marcela Colombo Dos Santos1, Juliano Lemos Bicas1
1Department of Food Science, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
Microbiological Research
|December 10, 2020
Summary
Filamentous fungi offer a novel source for natural blue pigments. Bikaverin, a fungal metabolite, turns blue with heat treatment and shows potential for food and pharmaceutical applications.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Natural Products Chemistry
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Limited natural blue pigments exist, driving research into microbial sources.
- Current microbial blue pigments include phycocyanin and indigoidine.
- Filamentous fungi are promising for diverse pigment production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review natural blue pigment production.
- To focus on bikaverin, a fungal pigment from Fusarium species.
- To explore bikaverin's potential applications.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on microbial blue pigments.
- Analysis of bikaverin's properties, including its color change mechanism.
- Assessment of bikaverin's biological activities.
Main Results:
- Bikaverin, a red metabolite, exhibits a blue color upon thermal treatment.
- The mechanism behind bikaverin's heat-induced color change is currently unknown.
- Bikaverin possesses antimicrobial and antiproliferative properties.
Conclusions:
- Bikaverin is a potential source of a novel natural blue pigment.
- Its unique color-changing ability and biological activities suggest applications in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
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