Bioactive Compounds Derived from Microalgae Showing Diverse Medicinal Activities

Abstract

Many diseases are becoming resistant to drugs. With this in mind, researchers are searching for cheap and effective drugs for their cure. Cyanobacteria can help attain this goal. Biologically active compounds are derived from algae and marine organisms. These natural compounds possess diverse biological activities like anthelmintic, antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, antiprotozoal, antituberculosis, and antiviral activities. These biologically active compounds are created with a variety of molecular targets in mind and thus may potentially contribute to several pharmacological classes. The synthesis of natural products and their analogues provide effective structural modifications on the parent compounds, which may be useful in the discovery of potential new drug molecules with different biological activities. Natural organisms have developed complex chemical defense systems by repelling or killing predators, such as insects, microorganisms, animals, etc. These defense systems have the ability to produce large numbers of diverse compounds which can be used as new drugs Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic prokaryotic microorganisms. Since ancient times, cyanobacteria have been used as food and fodder. However, they are well-known for producing toxins and fouling ponds, as they form water bloom. Various studies are currently being done to also prove their potency in medical science. Their strength is that they produce various metabolites that are antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, antitumor, antialgal, antiviral, UV protectants, inhibitors of enzymes, hepatotoxins and neurotoxins.