Recent advances in microbial production of nutraceuticals: a sustainable approach

Nutraceuticals, a significant category of bioactive compounds, play a crucial role in promoting human health and preventing diseases. The expanding market for nutraceuticals is largely driven by heightened public health awareness. However, conventional production methods fall short in meeting the rapidly growing market demand. Unlike chemical synthesis or plant extraction, microbial cell factories offer a sustainable and increasingly prominent alternative for nutraceutical production. Various microbial systems, such as Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Corynebacterium glutamicum, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, have been engineered as multifunctional cell factories to synthesize diverse nutraceuticals. This review systematically summarizes the biosynthesis of various nutraceuticals using microbial cell factories, including vitamins, polysaccharides, and flavonoids. Additionally, it examines current challenges in this field, along with potential solutions and future prospects. Collectively, microbial cell factories are pioneering sustainable approaches to address pressing global health demands.