Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) are considered the most
primitive photosynthetic prokaryotes which appeared on this planet during the
Precambrian period. The application of cyanobacteria showed immense potential
in wastewater and industrial effluent treatment, bioremediation of aquatic and
terrestrial habitats, chemical
industries, biofertilizers, food, feed,
and fuel, etc. Spanish local fishermen collected blue-green masses from the
lakes that were prepared as a dry cake, known as ‘tecuitlatl’. Spirulina,
chlorella and Noctoc cyanobacterial species are being used as food supplements
which are full of nutrients such as protein, and vitamins, and also have
medicinal values like antiviral, antibacterial, anti-cancerous ECT. Besides,
several Cyanobacterial species are also being used as biofertilizers in
agriculture, and also for chelating toxic heavy metal ions for removing them
from soil which is commonly known as bioremediation of soil pollutants. In
viewing the “one platform” solution, nature has provided for all the
environmental and medical problems in Cyanobacteria, there is a need to
practically implement the use of cyanobacteria in the lives of common man. This
chapter not only shades lite on the nutritional but also medicinal values of
different species of cyanobacteria but also briefly discussed the new discovery
of Exo-polysaccharides (metabolites) of cyanobacteria which are considered as
one of the important group of biopolymers having significant ecological,
industrial and biotechnological importance. Due to their structural complexity,
versatility and valuable biological properties, they are now emerging as
high-value compounds. However, poor
understanding of their complex structural properties, and lack of concrete
information regarding the genes encoding the proteins involved in the EPS
biosynthetic pathways, their process of production and the associated factors
controlling their structural stability, strongly limit their commercialization
and applications in the various fields of biotechnology.
Author(s) Details
Shagufta. A. Shaikh
PCSIR Labs, Karachi, Pakistan.
Kauser Siddiqui
PCSIR Labs, Karachi, Pakistan.
Munazza Sohail
PCSIR Labs, Karachi, Pakistan.
Please see the link:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/rpmab/v4/20041D
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