Recent Developments in Production of C-Phycocyanin and Its Application Through Biotechnological Perspective

Microalgae have found commercial application as natural resources of valuable metabolites like protein, lipids, carbohydrates, pigments, carotenoids or vitamin and chlorophyll. Among these, C-Phycocyanin is a blue pigment in cyanobacteria, rhodophytes and cryophytes with fluorescent and antioxidant properties. C-phycocyanin has many applications in food, health and therapeutical purposes. Now-a-days increased awareness of the toxic effect of synthetic compounds and community preference towards the use of natural products have led to focus on microalgae as a source of natural colorant. Recently, phycocyanin is being considered to be used to treat against Ebola virus disease by its super antiinflammatory, anti-oxidant and various medicinal virtues. This paper presents recent developments about the new sources and production of C-phycocyanin, extraction and purification techniques in biotechnological perspective. Besides, this paper focuses on present and promising applications of C-phycocyanin in food industry, also for diagnostics purposes and neutraceuticals at large.