Microorganisms: A Potential Source of Bioactive Molecules for Antioxidant Applications

Rani, Alka; Saini, Khem Chand; Bast, Felix; Mehariya, Sanjeet; Bhatia, Shashi Kant; Lavecchia, Roberto; Zuorro, Antonio

doi:10.3390/molecules26041142

Open AccessReview

Microorganisms: A Potential Source of Bioactive Molecules for Antioxidant Applications

by

Alka Rani

^1,†

,

Khem Chand Saini

^1,†

,

Felix Bast

¹,

Sanjeet Mehariya

²

,

Shashi Kant Bhatia

³

,

Roberto Lavecchia

² and

Antonio Zuorro

^2,*

¹

Department of Botany, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab 151401, India

²

Department of Chemical Engineering, Materials and Environment, Sapienza University of Rome, 00184 Rome, Italy

³

Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

^†

These authors contributed equally to this work.

Molecules 2021, 26(4), 1142; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26041142

Submission received: 31 December 2020 / Revised: 8 February 2021 / Accepted: 16 February 2021 / Published: 20 February 2021

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Abstract

Oxidative stress originates from an elevated intracellular level of free oxygen radicals that cause lipid peroxidation, protein denaturation, DNA hydroxylation, and apoptosis, ultimately impairing cell viability. Antioxidants scavenge free radicals and reduce oxidative stress, which further helps to prevent cellular damage. Medicinal plants, fruits, and spices are the primary sources of antioxidants from time immemorial. In contrast to plants, microorganisms can be used as a source of antioxidants with the advantage of fast growth under controlled conditions. Further, microbe-based antioxidants are nontoxic, noncarcinogenic, and biodegradable as compared to synthetic antioxidants. The present review aims to summarize the current state of the research on the antioxidant activity of microorganisms including actinomycetes, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, microalgae, and yeast, which produce a variety of antioxidant compounds, i.e., carotenoids, polyphenols, vitamins, and sterol, etc. Special emphasis is given to the mechanisms and signaling pathways followed by antioxidants to scavenge Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), especially for those antioxidant compounds that have been scarcely investigated so far.

Keywords: oxidative stress; natural antioxidant; astaxanthin; mycothiol; peroxiredoxin; microalgae

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MDPI and ACS Style

Rani, A.; Saini, K.C.; Bast, F.; Mehariya, S.; Bhatia, S.K.; Lavecchia, R.; Zuorro, A. Microorganisms: A Potential Source of Bioactive Molecules for Antioxidant Applications. Molecules 2021, 26, 1142. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26041142

AMA Style

Rani A, Saini KC, Bast F, Mehariya S, Bhatia SK, Lavecchia R, Zuorro A. Microorganisms: A Potential Source of Bioactive Molecules for Antioxidant Applications. Molecules. 2021; 26(4):1142. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26041142

Chicago/Turabian Style

Rani, Alka, Khem Chand Saini, Felix Bast, Sanjeet Mehariya, Shashi Kant Bhatia, Roberto Lavecchia, and Antonio Zuorro. 2021. "Microorganisms: A Potential Source of Bioactive Molecules for Antioxidant Applications" Molecules 26, no. 4: 1142. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26041142

APA Style

Rani, A., Saini, K. C., Bast, F., Mehariya, S., Bhatia, S. K., Lavecchia, R., & Zuorro, A. (2021). Microorganisms: A Potential Source of Bioactive Molecules for Antioxidant Applications. Molecules, 26(4), 1142. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26041142

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Microorganisms: A Potential Source of Bioactive Molecules for Antioxidant Applications

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