A Review of the Biological Activity of Cyanobacterial Metabolites

Abstract

Introduction: The rapid increase in bacterial strains resistant to all known antibiotics is a major challenge we confront today. Currently, available medications are no longer effective against all bacteria. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified antibiotic resistance as one of the ten major global threats to humanity. Consequently, researchers have adopted a range of strategies to directly collect natural compounds from cyanobacteria in search of new antimicrobial medications.

Conclusion: Cyanobacteria are prokaryotic, Gram-negative organisms identified as rich sources of bioactive compounds. They are utilized not only as food and dietary supplements but can also in cost-effective and eco-friendly techniques for nanoparticle synthesis. Moreover, their medical applications as potential antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agents are highly significant. Studies on the broad biomedical uses of cyanobacteria-synthesized nanoparticles have demonstrated antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activities. Consequently, metabolites extracted from cyanobacteria are considered promising candidates for drug design and targeted drug delivery.