Rhamnolipid the Glycolipid Biosurfactant: Emerging trends and promising strategies in the field of biotechnology and biomedicine

Priyanka Thakur,Vijai Kumar Gupta,Adesh K Saini,Neeraj K Saini,Vijay Kumar Thakur,Reena V Saini

doi:10.1186/s12934-020-01497-9

Abstract

Rhamnolipids (RLs) are surface-active compounds and belong to the class of glycolipid biosurfactants, mainly produced from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Due to their non-toxicity, high biodegradability, low surface tension and minimum inhibitory concentration values, they have gained attention in various sectors like food, healthcare, pharmaceutical and petrochemicals. The ecofriendly biological properties of rhamnolipids make them potent materials to be used in therapeutic applications. RLs are also known to induce apoptosis and thus, able to inhibit proliferation of cancer cells. RLs can also act as immunomodulators to regulate the humoral and cellular immune systems. Regarding their antimicrobial property, they lower the surface hydrophobicity, destruct the cytoplasmic membrane and lower the critical micelle concentration to kill the bacterial cells either alone or in combination with nisin possibly due to their role in modulating outer membrane protein. RLs are also involved in the synthesis of nanoparticles for in vivo drug delivery. In relation to economic benefits, the post-harvest decay of food can be decreased by RLs because they prevent the mycelium growth, spore germination of fungi and inhibit the emergence of biofilm formation on food. The present review focuses on the potential uses of RLs in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, food and health-care industries as the potent therapeutic agents.

Highlights

Surfactants are group of amphipathic compounds having hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties with the potential to lessen the surface and interfacial tensions in molecules [1, 2] which makes them very suitable for lubrication, emulsification, foaming, detergency and dispersing agents and can be effectively used by food, petroleum, agriculture, pharmaceutical industries as wellBiosurfactants harbour hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties which are synthesized by fungi, bacteria, yeast
In today’s scenario, rhamnolipids are very important due to their non-toxic nature, high biodegradability, low surface tension and cmc values, high emulsifying activity and having properties like antimicrobial, antitumor, antibiofilm, antifungal. These diverse properties of rhamnolipids make them effective to be used as the alternative to chemical surfactants and additives in various industries to overcome the hazardous effects of fungus, microbes and hydrocarbons on microorganisms, plants, animals, and humans
Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of rhamnolipids show that they are used in low concentrations which make them as potent antimicrobial, antitumor and antifungal agents

Summary

Introduction

Surfactants are group of amphipathic compounds having hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties with the potential to lessen the surface and interfacial tensions in molecules [1, 2] which makes them very suitable for lubrication, emulsification, foaming, detergency and dispersing agents and can be effectively used by food, petroleum, agriculture, pharmaceutical industries as wellBiosurfactants harbour hydrophobic (saturated/ unsaturated fatty acids) and hydrophilic (amino acids/ peptides, anions/cations, di-/polysaccharides) moieties which are synthesized by fungi, bacteria, yeast. Their negative effects on the environment made researchers to introduce biosurfactants which are surface-active compounds having low toxicity and high biodegradability. Rhamnolipids as antitumor agents Cancer is a dreadful disease, and RLs have shown a very potent effect on human and animal cancer cells [12].

Results

Conclusion