Exploring bioactive pigments from marine bacterial isolate from the Indonesian seas

Abstract

Marine microbes offer a significant source for biodiscovery due to their rich biodiversity and genetic capacity. Particularly, microbial pigments of marine origin are getting more attention in current research due to their widely perceived application as natural food colorants, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and many more. In the past five years, our research group has successfully characterised various bioactive pigments isolated from marine bacteria, including Erythrobacter flavus strain KJ5 that produces unique sulphur-containing carotenoids , Pseudoalteromonas rubra strain PS1 and SB14 that contain antimicrobial prodiginine, and Seonamhaeicola algicola strain CCI for high content of zeaxanthin. This paper describes the challenges we encountered in conducting research in exploring bioactive pigments especially with focus on carotenoid research, reviewed critically on strategy we developed for isolation of isolate as well as identification and elucidation of the pigments, and consideration for future research.