title: Recent developments in therapeutic applications of Cyanobacteria.
abstract: The cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) are photosynthetic prokaryotes having applications in human health with numerous biological activities and as a dietary supplement. It is used as a food supplement because of its richness in nutrients and digestibility. Many cyanobacteria (Microcystis sp, Anabaena sp, Nostoc sp, Oscillatoria sp., etc.) produce a great variety of secondary metabolites with potent biological activities. Cyanobacteria produce biologically active and chemically diverse compounds belonging to cyclic peptides, lipopeptides, fatty acid amides, alkaloids and saccharides. More than 50% of the marine cyanobacteria are potentially exploitable for extracting bioactive substances which are effective in killing cancer cells by inducing apoptotic death. Their role as anti-viral, anti-tumor, antimicrobial, anti-HIV and a food additive have also been well established. However, such products are at different stages of clinical trials and only a few compounds have reached to the market.
authors: a Food Science Lab, Meditbio, Faculty of Sciences and Technology , University of Algarve , Faro , Portugal and.
authors: Rathinam
authors: R
authors: Raja
authors: a Food Science Lab, Meditbio, Faculty of Sciences and Technology , University of Algarve , Faro , Portugal and.
authors: Shanmugam
authors: S
authors: Hemaiswarya
authors: b AcmeProgen Biotech (India) Pvt. Ltd. , Salem , Tamil Nadu , India.
authors: Venkatesan
authors: V
authors: Ganesan
authors: a Food Science Lab, Meditbio, Faculty of Sciences and Technology , University of Algarve , Faro , Portugal and.
authors: Isabel S
authors: IS
authors: Carvalho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000737:chemistry*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis*; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D001685:Biological Factors
keywords: Cyanobacteria; human health; microalgae; therapeutic application