Blue green algae (BGA) and its application

Abstract

Cyanobacteria are known from a long evolutionary history and its unique traits, for example, oxygenic photosynthesis, high biomass yield, growth on water sources mainly contaminated and polluted waters), generation of useful by-products and bio-fuels, in agriculture as biofertilizer, wastewater treatment, enhancing the soil fertility, reclamation of saline soil, and in nutrition as food supplements and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, have collectively offered these bio-agents as the precious bio-resource to harness the maximum benefit of cyanobacteria. Furthermore, Cyanobacteria also produce an ample variety of chemicals (secondary metabolites) that are not needed for their normal growth of cyanobacteria which show powerful biological activities such as strong antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, antitumoral and anti-inflammatory activities useful for therapeutic purposes. Since cyanobacteria grow in simple growth needs, therefore it is cost-effective to make full use of cyanobacteria for the production of recombinant compounds of medicinal and commercial purposes. Recently cyanobacteria have opened new ways to explore in screening, culture, and genetic engineering techniques without many side effects. In this review examines cyanobacteria uses and its application that can be used to deal with current problems and scarcity such as food, energy, and environmental deterioration.