Title:Technological and Scientific Prospection on Pigments Produced by
Microorganisms
Volume: 17
Issue: 4
Author(s): Tainã Lima Silva de Souza, Carolina Oliveira de Souza and Marcelo Andrés Umsza-Guez*
Affiliation:
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
- Pos-Graduate
Program in Food Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador - State of
Bahia, R. Barão de Jeremoabo, 147 - Ondina, 40170-115, Brazil
Keywords:
Bacteria, colorants, fermentation, fungi, yeasts, microalgae, patents.
Abstract:
Background: Interest in natural pigments has grown due to the negative aspects
caused by synthetic options, which trigger damage to the body and the environment. Research
with natural pigments produced by microorganisms becomes viable in relation to
other pigments extracted from animals or plants, as microorganisms have advantages in
terms of versatility and productivity. Thus, production technologies are protected by patents.
Methods: To evaluate the evolution of research and technological development on producing
natural pigments by different microorganisms through scientific and technological prospection.
Scientific prospecting was done by searching articles published from 2010 to
2020 in the Scopus, Science Direct, and Web of Science databases. Technological prospecting
was carried out with patents obtained from the European Patent Office
(ESPACENET) database.
Results: The searches were based on the keywords “pigment” and “dye” crossed with microalgae,
fungi, bacteria and yeast. A total of 2.811 articles and 451 patents were selected.
Scientific prospecting has shown interest in alternative cultivation media, and among the
microorganisms that produce pigments, fungi and microalgae are the most studied.
Conclusion: Technological prospecting showed that 375 (83%) recovered patent documents
refer to the protection of pigment extraction and production techniques and that the
largest patent holders are private companies, followed by Chinese universities.