Microalgal Pigments as Natural Color

The microalgal resources have become excellent sources of bioactive and functional compounds for our benefits. Many species are being cultivated for the production of biochemicals pertaining to the fields of therapeutics, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, food and feed, aquaculture, poultry, energy production, and so on. The microalgae possess an array of widely distributed natural pigments belonging to three classes—chlorophylls, carotenoids, and phycobilins—out of which carotenoids consist of large number of pigments. The microalgal pigments are employed as natural colorants in food, feed, cosmetics, confectionary, poultry, and aquaculture, and in fluorescent cell imaging techniques. Apart from this, many possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-angiogenic, anti-obesity, antidiabetic, immune stimulating and neuroprotective bioactivities. All these applications point out vast potential of microalgae for our welfare.