ReviewMarine microorganisms: An emerging avenue in modern nutraceuticals and functional foods

- Marine microorganisms exhibit several adaptations to the marine environment.
- In the marine environment microbes produce unique microbial metabolites.
- These microbial metabolites possess wide range of therapeutic activities.
- Potentials of marine microbial metabolites as food ingredients are discussed.

Marine microorganisms have received mounting attention in biodiscoveries due to their exclusive physicochemical characteristics which have been acquired as an adaptation to prevailing extreme conditions in the marine environment. It has been noticed that those unique marine microbes and their biologically active metabolites are potential sources to be used as sustainable food and pharmaceutical ingredients. Even though dozens of research articles demonstrate the immense potentials of marine microbial metabolites as lead compounds in drugs and pharmaceutical developments, their role as food ingredients is poorly addressed. However, recent advances in food technology have opened up a number of novel avenues to develop natural substances as food or food ingredients. In this context, this review aims at revealing and discussing prospective applications of marine microorganisms and their metabolites in modern nutraceuticals and functional foods.