Review Article
Prodigiosin is an important red tripyrrole pigment generated by Streptomyces spp., recognized for its strong antimicrobial, anticancer, and immunomodulatory properties, positioning it as a valuable natural bioactive compound for use in pharmaceutical and industrial sectors. The diverse bioactivities and natural origin of prodigiosin establish it as a promising candidate for sustainable applications in therapeutics, natural dyes, and food or cosmetic colorants. This review utilizes a systematic narrative synthesis of published articles to thoroughly examine environmental sources, isolation workflows, culture optimization, analytical characterization, and applications of prodigiosin derived from Streptomyces. This work integrates literature from various ecosystems, including marine and terrestrial environments, while also focusing on specialized habitats. It elaborates on pretreatment methods, selective media, fermentation strategies, and analytical techniques, including UV–Vis, GC–MS, LC–MS, NMR, FT-IR, and HPLC. Despite thorough investigation, there are still gaps in comprehending the genomic regulation of prodigiosin biosynthesis, especially within marine Streptomyces. Additionally, issues related to pigment stability, solubility, and scalable production continue to impede industrial and clinical applications. Future investigations should concentrate on genomic and metabolic engineering to clarify regulatory networks, enhance fermentation and bioprocessing at scale, and create stable formulations to enable broader biomedical and industrial applications. Meeting toxicological and regulatory requirements is essential for ensuring safe translation. Broadening the investigation into less-explored environments could uncover new variants of prodigiosin with enhanced characteristics. This collaborative approach will elevate prodigiosin from a fascinating microbial metabolite to a practical and sustainable foundation for therapeutics and colorants.
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