Microbial Pigments: Insights into Diversity, Biosynthesis, and Multifaceted Applications

Abstract Naturally derived colorants from microorganisms have attracted significant interest assustainable and environmentally conscious substitutes for Artificial and chemicals colorants.These biologically active substances are synthesized by diverse groups of microbes, includingbacteria, fungi, yeasts, and algae, and are known not only for their vivid hues but also fortheir strong antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities. With advances in greenextraction technologies and microbial fermentation, pigments are now increasingly beingintegrated into various sectors, including textiles, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, aquaculture,and nanotechnology. This manuscript provides a comprehensive overview of microbialpigment diversity, biosynthetic sources, and their broad-spectrum industrial andenvironmental applications, culminating in a discussion on their potential to supportsustainable development.