Bioactive Compounds from Cyanobacteria: A Mini Review

A wealth of new natural products with enormous potential in their bioactive components can be found in cyanobacteria, which are frequently seen as a promising but still largely unexplored biological resource. Since these microbes can produce a wide range of secondary metabolites with a variety of biological activities, they have garnered a lot of scientific attention. A wide variety of structurally distinct and bioactive small molecules have been discovered as a result of previous research efforts that mainly concentrated on the study of secondary metabolites derived from marine cyanobacteria. This thorough review methodically compiles the most recent developments in bioactive secondary metabolites derived from cyanobacteria, including genera like Hormoscilla, Moorena, Lyngbya, Okeania, and others, reported in 2024 across the globe in response to the pressing need for novel lead compounds in drug development. Interestingly, most of these compounds were isolated from marine cyanobacteria, though some interesting findings also came from freshwater varieties. 35 recently discovered compounds, total-24 peptides, 7 lipids, 2 macrolides, and 2 terpenoids, are included in the review. Along with a thorough compilation of pertinent chemical and biological data, each compound is methodically presented with detailed information on its cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and enzyme-inhibitory activities. This comprehensive analysis emphasizes the chemical diversity found in cyanobacterial secondary metabolites as well as their potential uses in the biotechnological and pharmaceutical sectors.